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Everton chief executive Robert Elstone has revealed the club would consider sharing a ground with city rivals Liverpool after plans for a new stadium at Kirkby were rejected.

The club and Tesco had hoped to build a new stadium and a shopping complex, in a move which would have seen Everton leave Goodison Park.
However, the idea was turned down by Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham.

The news has raised the possibility of Everton and Liverpool coming to an agreement to share a ground, with Liverpool’s plans to build a new stadium at Stanley Park being hit by financial problems.

The fierce rivals have previously expressed a reluctance about sharing a ground, but in the wake of the failed Kirkby project, Elstone has revealed Everton are not against the idea if it makes financial sense for both clubs.

Asked about the idea of ground-sharing, Elstone told Sky Sports News. “It’s certainly one of the options that we will need to cover.

“A shared stadium is perhaps an option if it’s affordable.

“We have to look at where we can raise money, because potentially Liverpool will have to obviously contribute to that, and Liverpool City Council perhaps might need to find some money.

“Our history is one of creativity and innovation and if we are the first major English club to look at sharing then we’re not scared of making those decisions.”

But Liverpool’s deputy executive director Peter Shaw played down the possibility of the city’s two clubs sharing a stadium.

“It’s not on our agenda at the moment,” said Shaw.

“Liverpool are progressing forward with our own stadium. That is the position we are still in.

“The LFC stadium is quite far progressed and once the financial markets reopen for business the LFC stadium will progress further.”

When asked whether the idea of a Groundshare with Everton could be a possibility, he said: “That’s not for me to answer.” (Sky Sports)

I just don’t see this happening and It’s odd, not to mention convenient, that now Everton have had their planning permission for a new stadium denied that they then consider the idea of ground sharing a goer. I have nothing against ground sharing as such but I just don’t think that a city as large as Liverpool with just two large clubs, needs to do so.

Our American owners on the other hand may well think the idea is a sound one as it would obviously save money and as such would be right down their street. The idea also that we will continue the procedure of building our new stadium once the “financial markets reopen for business” is a very misleading one and handily gives Messrs Hicks and Gillett a chance of waiting as long as they like to do as they had promised some time ago.

Back to the issue at hand though, how do my fellow fans feel about the idea of groundsharing? Would you be against it wholeheartedly? Would you welcome it? Would it be financially prudent to do so?

YNWA

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Reports on Liverpool Banter suggested Liverpool’s American owners might be ready to sit down and share things with Everton.

But Hicks insists sharing a Stadium is not going to happen.

A spokesman for Hicks told the ECHO:

“There is no interest in a shared stadium and no planned meeting to discuss this.”

There has been speculation that a meeting is scheduled with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to discuss the matter.

The original plans for Liverpool’s £300m ground included building work to begin last year, but the scheme was later revised and the construction start delayed, much to the annoyance of Rafa Benitez and Liverpool supporters worldwide.

With the trans-Atlantic credit crunch still eating into Hicks’ and Gillett’s funds, and manager Rafa Benitez having to sell players in order to buy, the NWDA is seeking an update on what’s happening and there have been calls from politicians in the city that the clubs should share facilities.

NWDA spokesman Steve Broomhead told the Liverpool Echo:

“The [scheduled] meeting is to update me on where Liverpool FC and Kop Holdings are with the plans to fund the new stadium.
“I want to clarify where the funding is for the new Anfield.”

Broomhead, who confirmed that neither Hicks nor George Gillett will attend the sit-down, is not interested in what’s best for Liverpool or Everton.

“I am only interested in the economic benefits of improved sports facilities for Merseyside,” he told the Echo.

Liverpool fans will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief that Everton chief executive Keith Wyness also denied there was any talk of a Groundshare.

“I can categorically state that a shared stadium is not on the agenda of either club,” he told the Echo.

Despite assurances from Hicks’s spokesman that there are no plans for sharing with Everton, Liverpool fans must surely be concerned that there is no sign of work starting on the new stadium, despite Tom Hicks’ previous assurances.

Without a major new stadium, Liverpool will continue to struggle to generate the same kind of revenue as north-west rivals Manchester Utd.