Continuing my analysis of the manouevrings going on surrounding the proposal to move Everton to a new stadium away from Goodison Park.

There is an investigation into a promotional Destination Kirkby ‘Once in a Lifetime Opportunity’ DVD that was given to Kirkby residents two days before the local elections. There have been allegations made that the DVD was created to influence votes, especially as the two opposition parties to the current Labour council are opposed to the plans and one of those parties was born out of opposition to the ‘Destination Kirkby’ plans.

The stadium and adjacent retail development planning application has received more than 8,000 objections and, how should I put this? It neglects to mention important information that would go against their application.

' . . . a Scouse location does not mean it is a good location. There are other factors, and this is where the Kirkby plan falls apart'


Two examples include:

1. Liverpool City Council have told Everton they are prepared to relocate a school and re-house nearby tenants so that Everton can expand Goodison Park. The planning application fails to mention this and states that the capacity would be capped at 37,000 if Goodison Park was redeveloped on its current footprint when in reality if they agreed to the council’s suggestion a 60,000-plus stadium would be viable.

2. It is a similar story with a fan-proposed site on Scotland Road (birthplace of ‘Our Cilla’). The site is near the city centre and is more than adequately covered public transport wise. HOK Sport, the company behind the Wembley and Millennium Stadiums, have said it can accommodate a 55,000 capacity stadium whilst the architect who oversaw the redevelopment of St. James' Park has said it can potentially accommodate 75,000 with the right contingencies in place, whilst Everton have said it will only provide a stadium for 32,000.

Kirkby is a new town; it is seven miles from Liverpool city centre and four miles as the crow flies from Goodison Park. It was formed less than 40 years ago as an overspill for residents who moved from their homes around Scotland Road in the Everton district (near the city centre) through choice or otherwise.

There is no question about it, Kirkby is a Scouse heartland; the people in Kirkby speak with a stronger Scouse accent than most residents within Liverpool’s city boundary. However, a Scouse location does not mean it is a good location. There are other factors, and this is where the Kirkby plan falls apart.

The land on which Everton wish to build their stadium belongs to the public; there is a resident’s group in the area called Kirkby Residents Action Group (“KRAG”) who I believe have had the land valued and as it stands now is worth £12m, but when it has planning permission for a retail park and football stadium it becomes £55m. Everton have been offered a “peppercorn rate” lease and will directly become tenants of Tesco supermarket. You have read that correctly; Everton FC, founders of the Football League with the most years in the top flight, will become tenants to a supermarket.

It is well known in Evertonia that a stadium in Kirkby is one of the answers to Tesco’s problem, as they needed a leisure facility to be able to build on the public land. It is not, and never has been, the answer to Everton’s problem but for whatever reason, the club have decided it is the answer.

Ask a fan why Everton are moving to Kirkby and you’ll either hear a quote from the ballot’s glossy brochure. A more popular answer is that Everton CEO, Keith Wyness, could double his salary in a year as he stands to pocket hundreds of thousands of pounds for relocating, a concern all but confirmed by Keith Edelman’s (former Arsenal director) £400,000 bonus for moving Arsenal to the Emirates Stadium three years ago, despite it being Terry Leahy and Tesco who are seemingly doing the bulk of the ground relocation work.

Bill Kenwright and directors Jon Woods and Robert Earle (formerly known as Robert Leigh and allegedly a front for investment from Sir Philip Green) also stand to make a tidy profit from the move – possibly millions.