WHATEVER the outcome of the planning inquiry into Everton’s new stadium, there’s only one place I think they should be considering committing their future to.

Stanley Park. And even though that means sharing a ground with Liverpool, it has to be considered.

I don’t get the fuss over this issue any more. I don’t understand the objections.

I always thought it was a good idea when it was first suggested – but now I think it’s the only way forward for both clubs if they want to compete at a level worthy of their names.

From Everton’s point of view the benefits are obvious. Their ‘Mr Fix It’ Keith Harris pretty much said as much last week when he hinted at how hard it was for the club to attract new investment.

That task will be almost impossible if they stay at the deteriorating Goodison Park, where attendances are dropping by the week.

Stay there and the team will drop with them because there’s no way that ground can generate the income to keep Everton competitive at the level they are at the moment.

And if Kirkby gets refused, where does that leave them? Can they honestly turn down the chance to be part of a project that would split the running costs with another club? That would keep them in the city boundaries, one of the main bugbears of the Kirkby relocation for many fans. That would be a far more attractive proposition for billionaire investors than anything they can put on the table at the moment.

People might wonder why Liverpool would want a part of this, but they’re not exactly in a position to close their ears to the proposal at the moment either.

Like Everton, they are in debt and the plans to start building on Stanley Park are long overdue, put on hold with little sign of progress.

And is anybody sure that the current owners can service the debt when it’s due in January?

The world has changed beyond recognition in terms of finances and both parties have to find the best way to overcome that problem.

And finding common ground with a common ground is the only way I can see it happening.

The historical argument is one that will rumble on throughout the process for supporters but I can’t see it being an issue any longer.

Everton can’t continue at Goodison and Liverpool are ready to leave Anfield. The Kop – as in the Kop as Bill Shankly knew it – is long gone and if that’s not sacred then there’s nothing we can’t move on from on.

Both clubs have great histories but there’s no reason why they can’t continue if they have the same home.

They would be in pretty much the same place as they’ve always been save for a few yards, and the Shankly Gates, Hillsborough Memorial and Dixie Dean statue can all easily be accommodated for both sets of supporters. They can even keep the equivalent corners of Stanley Park that they have now.

Just like in Milan, it would be Everton’s ground when they are at home, Liverpool’s ground when they are at home.

And until someone can come up with a better alternative, I’m sticking to my belief that all the arguments gravitate towards a shared stadium – and it won’t be long before Merseyside’s two great clubs will as well.

Mark Lawrenson was talking to NICK SMITH