19 Aug 2008Date set for Everton stadium hearing

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Technology and Stadia

The government has confirmed that the date for the public hearing into Everton's proposed move to a new stadium in Kirkby will be held in November.

It will begin on November 18th after the government announced that it would call in the plans last month.

The development includes a Tesco store as well as the 50,000 seat stadium and the Department for Communities and Local Government said that ministers had thought long and hard about the project.

Everton and Knowsley Council leader Ron Round told the BBC that setting a date was good for the people of Kirkby.

Fans have argued that they do not want Everton to move outside the borders of Liverpool but the club's new chief executive has said that the move is crucial.

Robert Elstone believes a new stadium is essential for the Toffees to compete financially within the Premier League.

"To do that, a new stadium is critical, and the strongest option available to the club - in terms of affordability, and what it can do for us in a business sense - is the one at Kirkby," he said in a statement on the club's website.

© Copyright