Toffees confirm Kirkby no-go

Plans for new stadium rejected by government officials

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 26th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Toffees confirm Kirkby no-go

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Everton have confirmed that their plans to relocate from Goodison Park to a new stadium in Kirkby have been rejected.

The Toffees, in conjunction with supermarket giants Tesco, had hoped for their new 50,000-seater arena to be the centrepiece of a retail park on the outskirts of Liverpool.

However, following an in-depth Public Inquiry held between November 2008 and February 2009, Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham has refused to sanction the proposal.

The project would have helped to regenerate the Kirkby area, with new jobs, leisure facilities and housing, and Everton are hugely frustrated to see their plans knocked back.

"Obviously, we are all bitterly disappointed with the decision as we felt that - along with our two partners - we had compiled and presented a most compelling case for the Destination Kirby project," Everton's chief executive Robert Elstone told the club's official website.

"We said all along that we not only believed the project to be deliverable but that it would have proved to be hugely beneficial for both Everton Football Club and the people of Knowsley.

"We will now regroup and carefully consider the options which are open to us. I feel I must stress that we do remain totally committed to finding a new home for our football club. The hunt for that new home will now intensify."

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Councilor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, added: "We are sorely disappointed with the decision made by the Secretary of State which means that this important regeneration scheme will not go ahead.

"This development would have resulted in many thousands of jobs being created, alongside a range of new facilities and investment coming into the borough.

"We are currently digesting the detail of the decision note and will in the coming weeks be looking at a way forward for the town. I am sure that many people will share my disappointment but I would like to reassure the residents of Kirkby that they will not be forgotten.

"We have very much appreciated their cooperation and patience throughout this process and we will continue to work tirelessly in our quest to seek out other investment opportunities for the town."

Comments (18)

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Neil Taylor (Everton fan) says...

A very sad day, this is what was needed to provide the foundations for the club to go forward. With bigger gates we could've invested the extra income wisely. Goodison is a great ground for atmoshere, but its really lacking for a stadium in the premiership. As for rish , liverpool fan, wheres liverpools new stadium?? Yeah, going nowhere....

Posted 15:23 26th November 2009

Eugene Leach (Celtic fan) says...

Its a sad day when in this economic climate, the actual employment benefits let alone the cultural and sporting benefits of this deal are rejected.Everton and Liverpool fans are both fiercely loyal to there respective clubs and rightly so. But its about time that ground sharing on a 50/50 ownership basis was accepted as the best way forward for both clubs. Liverpool's own plans each day get further and further from fruition,and the original plans have been changed significantly. Neither club can afford the huge burden of going it alone. For yrs the city has prided itself on the uniquely Liverpool derby where rival fans can go to the game together , and families be divided but on the best of good sporting tradition. I hope that both sets of Directors sit down and realise its the best option for both clubs.

Posted 14:55 26th November 2009

Mark Wilson (Everton fan) says...

Massive blow for the football club. We badly need a new stadium to increase revenues and im worried we might be going back to the dark days of relegation fights every year. Goodison Park is going to be difficult to redevelop due to close proximity of houses etc and now is the time for the city council to come up with some options to keep Everton in the city, something they should of done before. I fear for Everton football club, not just as a top 8 team but their premier league status.

Posted 14:11 26th November 2009

Keith Hillsdon (Liverpool fan) says...

Nobody has mentioned the effect this massive retail park would have had on the already existing shops and business in Kirkby, this was the main reason for its refusal, (which Sky have failed to mention). These people have put a lot of blood and sweat to make a living over the years and lets be honest there livelihoods would have been destroyed. The most compelling factor was that Evertonians DID NOT WANT the move, and i,m inclined to believe the vote was manipulated as mentioned before, i for one have yet to meet and talk to an Evertonian that wanted the move to Kirkby, and as a taxi driver i have spoken to many on the subject. For once common sense has prevailed, it doesnt happen often with this government. KEEP EVERTON IN LIVERPOOL, were it was born.

Posted 14:01 26th November 2009

Scouse 13 (Liverpool fan) says...

Feel sorry for Evertionians, understood their desire to stay in liverpool, but the Kirkby opportunity was just to good to miss out on, hope all this time wasting doesnt affect the footballing side because without Tesco backing there ground, dont see where they are going get the money to build a new stadium as well as buying new players, could be the Newcastle of 2010!!!!

Posted 13:49 26th November 2009

Paddy Mckerrick (Everton fan) says...

Very good decision in my view! DK was always a way of lining the boards pockets moreover Bill Kenwrights and was of no real benefit to the club! Our own well thought out stadium, built from the clubs cash not some super market chain! Risk Mistry - Get a grip! just remember who's ground your playing in! Anfield was Everton's ground initially!!! And when you can't actually afford to pay for your own ground yourselves, to insist we pay you rent is obsurd but not suprising coming from a red! are you from Norway by any chance???

Posted 13:19 26th November 2009

Dean Barton (Everton fan) says...

This i have to say is very disapointing, not only for everton fc but for the people of knowsley too. I dont see how anyone could knock this project. It would have created a higher income for EFC and created thousands of jobs, now what area of the country doesnt need that nowadays, rising unemployment and the government seems to have forgotten all about that. As EFC fans it would have maybe been a shock, leaving goodison and maybe the city boundaries. But what you have to remember is that we are dealing with a council that rejected our plans for moving to stanley park only to give LFC permission a few years later. We have to move with the times and realise that one of the reasons that we cannot attract investors is because of the ground. Also someone mentioned before that the money should be used to buy players instead....there is no money, the funds for the new ground were coming from the sale of goodison park, the club have already stated that. So where do we go now? I dont know but i have faith in kenright and co to make the right decision for EFC. If ya know your history......

Posted 13:03 26th November 2009

Chris Miller (Liverpool fan) says...

They want to try to beat Hull FC before they spend another penny on anything....

Posted 12:35 26th November 2009

Sean Nolan (Everton fan) says...

How many people know that when our great club Everton moved to Goodison Park it was at the time outside the boundries of Liverpool ? What applied then applies now - it was for the good of the club. As for nobody wanted to move - that is utter rubbish. People would not mention it because of the rhetoric that would then be spouted by keioc. As always the vociferous few bully the silent majority. The vast majority of Blues I know are in favour of a move. I was born in Kirkdale and lived in Walton as well so I do understand people getting protective of a move. As for the city council they have been so biased - warren bradley should hang his head in shame. Now we have a limp government to follow suit. One thing you cannot take away from Evertonians is our spirit - we are born Evertonians and stay that way for life not jump on bandwagons as they pass. Let's hope we do have a big future in English football, but without investment things will only go one way - did you think about that in your strayegy keioc boys ?

Posted 12:29 26th November 2009

Gary Daulby (Everton fan) says...

What people fail to realise is Tesco were contributing most of the money to build the new ground in Kirkby so they could have a store there. Were will Everton now get money from to build a ground? Kirkby was only down the road, just off the M57, what could be better for transport links! Parking would have been superb as well. Those of you that opposed this move must be mad, County Road and Parking on match day is a nightmare. The deal of the century has just been lost!! Perhaps people should have got behind this proposal and recognised this gift horse was staring them right in the face.

Posted 12:09 26th November 2009

Chris Owen (Manchester United fan) says...

it is a shame that Everton are not able to build a new stadium it is vital for the club's overall growth. weather or not ground sharing with liverpool will be viable remains to be seen and i highly doubt that loyal everton fans would actualy be pleased by the prospect of having to sit in there rival's ground for their home games!!! it will come as ablow to liverpool surely with their plans to move to stanly park it's all red tape

Posted 11:22 26th November 2009

Kevin Connolly (Everton fan) says...

Great news for all Evertonians..all Evertonians know the initial fans vote to move to Kirby was rigged by the club. I am an avid Evertonian and I know no Evertonian who was for this ground move to Kirby even though it may seem financially a good move. There is only one place Everton Football Club should be and that is witrhin the bounderies of the city of Liverpool

Posted 11:20 26th November 2009

Nigel Avery (Everton fan) says...

Disgraceful decision and from a government that are so, so out of touch with the people! This project would have done so much for the community and Everton. I am gutted that the CEO, chairman and Tesco have tried so hard to secure the future of Everton FC, only to be rebuffed by a 'red' council and obviously a 'red' supporting government! I know one person who will not be voting this government back into power. I only hope that someone with enough money can see the benefit of purchasing the great club of Everton, despite having to play in a shed for the next few seasons..to the supporters who voted against the Kirby project i say 'so where do we go from here?'

Posted 11:12 26th November 2009

Alan Curtis (Everton fan) says...

Thank God we are not going to Kirby! were the first club in this city, going to knowsley would have taken us out of the city. We have to look at the options in Liverpool and there are many. Everton now should spend some of that money for a new stadium and spend it on new players. there is no use having a new stadium and then playing in the championship! come on Everton get your hand in your pocket and buy some players in the january transfer market, because the team we have now is not good enough. (Nil Satis Nisi optimum) Nothing but the best!

Posted 11:07 26th November 2009

James Miello (Everton fan) says...

we need a ground that is as far away from lfc as possible and for me kirkby wasnt far away enough .

Posted 11:02 26th November 2009

Colin Whelan (Everton fan) says...

I grew up next to Goodison Park, it's a very poor, highly built up area. The transport links are terrible and the potential to develop with additional fund raising oppurtunities (Shops, Hotels etc) are non existant. Everton need to move to develop so this is very dissapointing. The money spent to get to this stage is simply lost and the money, jobs, skills and oppurtunites it would have brought to an area that could do with them will also be lost. VERY VERY DISSAPOINTING

Posted 10:56 26th November 2009

Rish Mistry (Liverpool fan) says...

I have no issue in Everton "Renting" LFC's New home to stage their "home" matches £300,000 a week should sort it!!! :-)

Posted 10:56 26th November 2009

Howard James says...

Mixed feelings realiy, i would like Everton to stay in the Liverpool boundry ,but also recognised that it was the deal of the century for Everton and i am disappointed at the outcome. But we dont seem to get anything i.e stanley park when we asked to relocate there a few years ago, also the albert dock was a big opportunity missed ?

Posted 10:26 26th November 2009
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