TOFFEES READY TO SHELVE MOVE PLANS

Boost on cards for Moyes

MOYES: Will be pleased with developments

By Andy Dunn, 23/01/2010

EVERTON look set to shelve plans to move away from Goodison Park.

The government scuppered their scheme to move to a Tesco-funded site just outside the city boundaries.

But recent talks with Liverpool City Council over a new stadium were described as "positive".

However, I understand senior figures within the club will now explore every avenue when it comes to the possible redevelopment of Goodison Park.

And it seems certain the team will remain at the 117-year-old ground for many years to come.

That will please manager David Moyes, who is understood to be keen on remaining at the historic - but outdated - stadium.

Everton had planned to move to Kirkby in a £400million project.

But that idea was knocked back by government officials and will not be resurrected.

Options within the city limits appear to be limited.

The cost of a new site would be prohibitive, especially as owner Bill Kenwright is still struggling to attract a major investor.

Plans for the development of the ground have been commissioned in the past and, now, a new feasibility study is likely to be undertaken.

Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Manchester City reminded some directors of the special atmosphere that can be generated at a stadium that hosted games during the 1966 World Cup. And Moyes believes that is a big plus-point in the argument to stay put.

With Liverpool struggling to find the finance for a new stadium on Stanley Park, the idea of groundsharing has again been raised.

But from Liverpool's point of view, the proposal is a non-starter.

The prospect of Kenwright selling up also appears to be diminishing.

While staying at Goodison might be beneficial from a footballing point of view, it will not make the club any more attractive to investors. And there appear to be few of them around.

That is why Moyes' transfer budget remains limited but he has drafted in Philippe Senderos on loan.

He had earmarked Sheffield United's Matt Kilgallon as a potential target - ideally in the summer when his contract expires - but the defender has joined Sunderland.

If Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford does not move in the window, Moyes could well be interested in the summer.

Your comments

This article has 8 comments

For God's sake look at the Goodison Park site from the air - Google Maps or whatever - it is obvious that the purchase of the houses behind the Bullens Road Stand and the school site is the best way forward.

Build a new Stand behind Bullens Road on top of the houses and school sites - little or no disruption to the season's playing.

And then a quick out of season demolition of Bullens Road, turn the pitch around 90 degrees. leaving the other three stands. The New Bullens Road and Main Stands are now at the pitch end, Gwadys Street and Park End along the sides.

Then?

- super duper executive and conference suites to raise loads of money at Bullens Road.

- huge amount new unobstructed seating

- minimal disruption

- time to redevelop Gwadwys and Park End when money becomes available

- keep the site and the history

- open up Walton Lane Railway Station

etc etc

By James Murray.. Posted June 3 2010 at 7:07 PM.

Everton cannot fill a 40000 seater, so how do you expect them to fill a 50000 one?

By Ray Morgan.. Posted January 25 2010 at 8:53 AM.

Well folks this is it - we are finally consigning ourselves to also ran status on a permanent basis, I love Goodison but in my opinion staying there and patching it up to say 45,000+ is almost as bad as a move to Kirkby would have been - just as Kirkby would have been the slow death of the club so would a disjointed, patched up Goodison in the shadow of a 70,000+ LFC super stadium on Stanley Park.

If we were not to move to Kirkby then a brand new build in the region of 50,000+ at the Waterfront or in Walton Hall Park should be the only options.

By Barry Marshall.. Posted January 24 2010 at 12:40 PM.

Hagar there have been many plans drawn up over the years the best of which if i remember correctly was to turn the pitch 90 degrees buy the land the school was on and extend the park end the now full length of the new pitch and add a 2nd tier before smacking the rest of the ground round and fitting it round the new layout. the park end was built so that there was an option to add a second tier at a later date

By cambs blue.. Posted January 24 2010 at 11:02 AM.

The same way the RS did a few years back
Buy off the surounding houses

By Bluescouse1.. Posted January 24 2010 at 10:13 AM.

There are a thousand considerations to be taken into account when planning to build a new stadium and it can get very complicated. However, the basic philosophy must be to be successful on the field first. Fancy stadiums don`t win trophies, players do. If expansion can be justified and indeed needed and there`s little room do what New York did, go up, but start in the dressing room.

By Jack Staniforth.. Posted January 24 2010 at 5:50 AM.

i know for a fact you can add and extra tier to the park end since it was built that way! also you can also dig down and add at least another 1000 seats that way - it seems the best and most feasible option

By konando.. Posted January 24 2010 at 1:21 AM.

I've no idea how they can expand/improve the ground as it's surrounded by housing. The Park End is the only option

By hagarthenice.. Posted January 24 2010 at 12:19 AM.

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