Blues set record straight on groundshare issue

Everton have distanced themselves from remarks by one of their own directors suggesting that they join forces with Liverpool to build a new shared stadium in the city rather than at the Anfield club’s Stanley Park site.

Director Paul Gregg questions the Stanley Park scheme and favours a new link with neighbours Liverpool for a stadium on a different site.

This move comes despite Sports Minister Richard Caborn’s claims earlier in the week that a shared stadium idea was “dead in the water,” and that he would ensure that Liverpool’s application for a £23million grant for Stanley Park would not be held up by the North West Development Agency.

Everton have issued a statement saying: “Whilst happy to encourage both open debate and freedom of speech, we wish to make it clear that Mr Gregg’s comments are of a wholly personal nature and do not necessarily represent the views of the club’s board of directors.”

However, the NWDA have announced they will make another bid to salvage the shared stadium ideal later in the month with another meeting with both clubs.

That would be strongly resisted by Liverpool, who already have planning permission for the Stanley Park scheme, while Everton have also admitted a shared stadium is no longer on the agenda.

Gregg has said: "A shared stadium on Stanley Park would be a substantially different proposition and my understanding is that it would also require a fresh planning application.

“Therefore it is absolutely vital that if we do commit to going down that road we need answers to two hugely important questions.

“Firstly is Stanley Park the best location in terms of impact and accessibility?

“Secondly is the Stanley Park stadium the best or only means of achieving the much needed regeneration of this residential community?

“These are big questions for the clubs, big questions for the city and big questions for the community in north Liverpool.”