Everton stadium inquiry: Only way for us to compete, says EFC chief

EVERTON FC pulls in about a quarter as much as some of its Premiership rivals from gate receipts.

Last night, acting chief executive Robert Elstone repeated his belief that Kirkby was the only stadium proposal in Merseyside capable of allowing the club to compete financially with the league leaders.

At a busy press conference at Goodison Park, he said: “Our club is 33% behind the average club in the Premier League. About five years ago, we were 19% behind in terms of revenue.

“This can’t go on.

“Every time the Emirates Stadium opens its doors, it generates £3m for the club. We earn about £800,000 on match days.

“A new stadium is vital.

“But we’ve had an extensive search for a decade for alternatives and we’ve had an open door policy for much of that time, which has included the likes of Keep Everton In Our City and our fans. But after all that searching it’s plain to see that there is no alternative.”

However, Mr Elstone said he recognised the raw emotions such a move can elicit.

He said: “If we disregard these emotions, then we do so at our peril. We’ve had a wonderful history here and that emotion has to be respected – it’s to be listened to and understood. But now we need to move our fan base with us.

“This is a monumental couple of months for this football club, an historic couple of months.”

Everton stadium inquiry: Tesco insists it will help Kirkby

TESCO claims its involvement in Kirkby is already helping to regenerate the town.

Spokesman Michael Kissman also revealed that more than 1,000 jobs will be ring-fenced for the long-term unemployed in and around Kirkby.

He said: “What we’re trying to do is make this town better by investing in it, and what we've done since Tesco purchased the town centre is work with managing agents to bring in more investment.

“We’ve already been successful.

“We've had two high street names sign contracts recently for the St Chad’s Parade.”

He added: “We will make sure that 50% of the jobs created go to long-term unemployed and work with a range of training partners. They’ll get literacy and numeracy skills and customer service skills to give people the basics for work in the retail environment. The exciting thing is in Kirkby that it will be the biggest regeneration partnership we’ve been involved with since we started eight years ago in Leeds.”

Tesco also claims to be bemused by the idea Destination Kirkby will harm its neighbours.

Mr Kissman said: “Tesco has just taken 33,000 square feet in the Liverpool One development and we’ve announced exciting schemes in Toxteth.

“We’re confident Liverpool has a very bright future and we’re continuing to invest in it.

“The same, too, in Sefton. We have been given permission for a new store in Litherland, as well as other projects across Merseyside.

“Now its Kirkby’s turn to get the large-scale investment they have not seen in a generation.”

Everton stadium inquiry: Kirkby ready for boomtime, say businesses   >>>>>>>>>>>>>