Crunch time for Everton

Jul 17 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

FEW things are more emotive for supporters than news that their football club wants to move from its traditional home to a new site.

For Everton fans, it is intensified by the fact that the new ground will no longer be in Liverpool itself, but in Knowsley.

This means Everton’s directors face an uphill struggle to persuade fans of the wisdom of the move to Kirkby, even though they are describing the offer as the "deal of the century".

A study of the fine details shows why. The deal with Tesco and Knowsley Council is worth £50m to the club and will leave it with minimum debts; increased revenue from the new stadium will mean manager David Moyes will have up to £10m a year extra to spend on players; and the new stadium could be up and running as early as 2010.

Last, but not least, the club has no "Plan B" in place and there are fears Goodison Park will not be fit for purpose in 10 years’ time.

Around 33,000 Everton supporters will now be canvassed for their views on the Kirkby move in a ballot.

They will have a difficult job balancing the conflicting demands of the head and the heart when it comes to casting their vote.

On the one hand, Liverpool is the club’s historic home, and moving out of the city will leave their way clear for the red half to take sole ownership of it in its own brand-new stadium.

On the other, it is highly unlikely that Everton would ever be offered such an advantageous deal as the Knowsley one again, if it were to be rejected.

It is not a decision that anyone would envy having to take. However, the views of Everton’s directors would appear to be clear and unanimous: the Kirkby move is the only sensible way forward for the club.

However, this debate is far from over and it will be interesting to know what the fans think when they are given the opportunity to have their say.