But Mr Clarkson attacked Mr McVicar’s evidence on the stadium, saying: “Are you telling us that you’re a football stadium expert and you have more expertise on these matters than Robert Elstone (Everton chief executive)?”

Mr McVicar said he was not an expert but there was no expert evidence submitted to the inquiry.

He asked: “Where is the evidence that they need this stadium (size)?”

Mr Clarkson replied: “You could have asked Mr Elstone that during his evidence but you didn’t. So what’s the point in burdening the inquiry with your views on the stadium development?

“Who cares what the cost of the stadium is?”

Mr McVicar said: “I think the people of Knowsley care and I think the council cares because I believe that’s what they understand they were getting (when the matter went through the planning process).”

From little acorns . . . the smaller-scale Kirkby complex plans submitted in 2005

THESE are the original images outlining Tesco’s vision for Kirkby, dating back more than four years.

The "Vision" was put together by Saunders Architects in December, 2005, on behalf of Tesco and reveal that a superstore/ stadium combination was first conceived in Kirkby months earlier than previously thought.

In these plans, a 50,000-seater stadium has replaced Knowsley Community College and sits next to the supermarket.

The centre of the town would have revolved around Cherryfield Drive and the development would have created an estimated 9,000 sq m of retail space compared with current plans of about 50,000 sq m.

An introduction to the documents said: "It was presented to Knowsley Council and Everton in late 2005, early 2006.

"No formal written brief was given to Saunders Architects – they were verbally instructed to prepare a masterplan for the site incorporating a 50,000-seater stadium, a Tesco Extra store and associated development to achieve a town centre extension."

The document begins to clarify the sequence of events that have evolved into the Destination Kirkby proposal before the inquiry.

Tesco witness Philip Coles said talks had begun with Knowsley Council in 2005, for a development south of Kirkby town centre.

But Knowsley Council chief executive Sheena Ramsey toldsaid in her evidence to the inquiry: "The council was first approached early in 2006 regarding the possibility of developing a new stadium and Tesco store in Kirkby."