Liverpool's announcement that its proposed new stadium project has been delayed again could extend an already-existing £50 million pay gap between the club and its rivals.
It was confirmed on Friday (August 29th) that "global market conditions" have forced the hitch in the £300 million plan to relocate to a new site in Stanley Park.
The club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are already unpopular with Reds fans, who hold serious doubts about the pair's intentions and how they financed the deal to buy the club in February 2007.
But now the news that the completion date for the new ground - originally set at August 2011 - is likely to put back has further increased their worries that Liverpool may be left behind financially.
Manchester United recorded a match day income of £92.5 million at Old Trafford during the 2006/07 season, while Arsenal raked in £90.6 million from their 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool, by contrast, brought in just £38.4 million, meaning that the £50 million gap looks set to be replicated for even longer than was first feared.
Dr Rogan Taylor, leader of 'ShareLiverpool', a fans consortium which is attempting to take the club into community ownership, said: "I am embarrassed by what is going on at my club.
"This club is more vulnerable now than it has been in my entire 47 years of watching them. It is a house of cards and a puff of wind can blow it over."
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21 October 2010
21 October 2010
21 October 2010
20 October 2010
20 October 2010