7 Dec 2009Everton stadium project 'could be saved by government'

Football Clubs News | Football Technology and Stadia

A government intervention could rescue Everton's aborted move to a new stadium in Kirkby, it has emerged.

Phil Woolas, minister for the north-west, has arranged to meet with members of Knowsley Council to discuss the plan, which was rejected by communities secretary John Denham last month.

According to the Liverpool Daily Post, Gordon Brown personally intervened over the Kirkby project and asked Mr Woolas to seek a solution.

The scheme failed to receive the green light due to concerns over the impact of a major retail centre on existing businesses in Kirkby.

However, officials will now be asked to consider whether the development, which includes a 50,000-seater stadium and a Tesco superstore, would still be possible without the additional retail outlets.

Knowsley MP George Howarth described the talks with Mr Woolas as "a glimmer of hope" for the Kirkby scheme.

He also said that ministers are concerned that the failure of the plan could have a negative impact on England's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, with the quality of the nation's stadia due to be placed under international scrutiny.

Written by Tom Jenkins

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