3 Jan 2008Everton close in on Kirkby move

Plans for Everton's potential new stadium in Kirkby have been officially submitted to Knowsley Council.

If the application is successful, construction work could start later in the year and the 50,000-seat stadium would then be ready for the start of the 2010-11 season.

However, the proposal has been dogged with controversy and a number of Kirkby residents have expressed their opposition to the move while a significant faction of the Everton support has been even more vociferous in their objection to the mooted relocation of their club outside of Liverpool.

Despite this, Keith Wyness, chief executive of Everton Football Club, believes the Kirkby stadium is the right option and is confident that the move will go ahead.

"This represents the next, key stage in what has been a complex and demanding process," he told the BBC.

"We remain very optimistic about what is a hugely-ambitious and significant project."

The £400 million ground is a joint venture with Tesco, and the stadium would be the focal point of a development featuring 50 shops and a 24-hour Tesco store.

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