Fans vote for Everton move

Moyes: May have new home

Related links

Teams

• Everton

Also see

• Transfer latest
• Play Fantasy Football
• Place a bet
• Text Alerts

Everton fans have voted in favour of the club's proposed relocation to Kirkby.

The Premier League side conducted a poll of around 36,000 fans, who were given the chance to vote on plans to move away from Goodison Park.

The results of the ballot have shown 59.27% of fans are in support of the proposal, while 40.73% are against the idea.

The Toffees have agreed to abide by the outcome of the vote to gauge the level of support for a move to a new 50,000-seater stadium in Kirkby.

Though there is still a sizeable number against moving out of the city, the club have called for all parties to unite.

"Everton Football Club acknowledges that a majority of those Evertonians who were eligible to vote in the ballot do support the club in its desire to relocate to a new home in Kirkby," read a club statement.

"We are the only major club in Europe to have handed over a decision of such importance and magnitude to its fan-base - something which simply serves to underscore the enormously high regard in which we hold our supporters.

Common good

"We now have a mandate to carry on negotiations with our two project partners - Knowsley Borough Council and Tesco.

"The club's board of directors, the management staff and the players would like to thank all those who participated in the ballot.

"We would also like to thank the Electoral Reform Services who ran the ballot on our behalf in a diligent and wholly professional manner.

"While we concede that the proposed move has undoubtedly provoked a heated and sustained debate, it is reassuring to know that the majority of Evertonians do support the club as it pursues its long-held desire to provide a world-class stadium for its world-class support.

"The result comes at the end of a transparent, democratic process and we believe that now is the time for all supporters of Everton Football Club to set aside any differences of opinion and unite for the common good.

"The simple truth is, we all want the same thing - a thriving, ambitious and prosperous club away from the field of play and an attractive, competitive team on it."