Everton’s Stadium Headache

The Government has ‘called in’ Everton’s plans for a new 50,000 seat stadium in Kirkby, but the club insist the £400million development is not dead.

With Government officials announcing their decision for a public inquiry on Wednesday night, a year could be added to the planning process for the Toffees’ stadium. The project had previously been challenged by a divide in fans’ opinion and a stretch in the club’s resources after their £78million pledge towards costs.

The Department for Communities and Local Government, who made the application assessment, said the plans had been carefully considered and had triggered one or more of the call-in criteria such as conflict with national policy, or national or regional controversy.

However, club officials refuse to cancel the plans, hoping for the major partner in the project, Tesco, to shell out for the increased costs.

A club statement read: ‘It is important to stress that this decision does not spell the end of the Destination Kirkby project – but it will, self-evidently, precipitate a period of reflection, assessment and re-evaluation.’

Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, had stressed this week that a new investment would help close the gap on the Premier League top four, with the new stadium poised to attract that finance.