Liverpool’s co-owner has just stated that the new stadium to be built on Stanley Park will cost £400m and won’t be ready until 2011.

He didn’t elaborate on any details so fans are left a little bit in the dark as to whether this is the cost for the 60,000-capacity preliminary design, or the 78,000 expanded design. Even if it is the latter, it will still cost more than Arsenal’s stadium, and potential revenues will not be as big due to the greater attraction of London clubs to corporate deals, and the higher wages their fans earn.

Even Manchester United can’t compete with Arsenal's financial figures, despite having more than 15,000 extra seats. Liverpool are likely to be in a similar situation. Even Chelsea, who have failed to sell tickets for less glamorous fixtures, rake in a decent amount of money, and If Roman Abramovich builds them a new stadium on the BBC’s Television Centre site in Shepherds Bush, this will increase revenue drastically.

'The average age of a football supporter at games now is 43, and I think the under 30s are in serious risk of being priced out of games'


I fear that the new Liverpool stadium could become a millstone around the club's neck, and the ticket prices will rise to service the debts. The average age of a football supporter at games now is 43, and I think the under 30s are in serious risk of being priced out of games. I look round the Kop and although there are youngsters in the crowd, they are vastly in the minority. I’m only slightly under the average age and one of my mates who goes to games is only 18 and has serious trouble affording tickets already.

Liverpool FC have always been a people's club (no matter what is put on the soon to be out-of-towners club across the park). Tom Hicks and George Gillett have assured fans that lower price tickets will be available to keep it that way, and the design is spectacular and truly in the Liverpool mould. But I am wary of the financial impact. Six years ago, we were going to build a 60,000 stadium and it was going to cost us £80m. Now we could be building a stadium with the same capacity and it’s costing us 500% more.

I know Arsenal's fans went through the same discussion, but being in London the money-making capabilities are far greater. Liverpool’s match revenue will greatly increase, but enough to service a £400m debt? We definitely need to move from Anfield - but the cost increases over the last 6 years are making me very worried!