Shared Stadium Not On Agenda

Everton have reiterated that a shared stadium is not on the Club's agenda.

Chief executive Keith Wyness has responded to calls from the North West Development Agency (NWDA) that the possibility of Everton and Liverpool sharing a new stadium should be appraised.

Wyness said that these latest comments were wholly unhelpful.

"Those people in high office, either at local or national level, who constantly seem to be producing what amount to red - or maybe blue - herrings are doing more damage than most people realise," he told evertonfc.com.

"The only two bodies who can move a shared stadium back onto any agenda are Everton and Liverpool football clubs - and both have again stated that this simply will not happen."

NWDA chief executive Steve Broomhead said he was meeting with Kop Holdings, Tom Hicks and George Gillett's company, which owns Liverpool FC, next week - although the meeting is not about the prospect of a shared stadium.

Wyness has revealed that in a recent meeting with his opposite number at Liverpool, Rick Parry - both men had agreed that a joint stadium project wasn't in the best interests of either party.

Wyness said: "Having discussed the matter with my Liverpool counterpart Rick Parry, I can categorically state that a shared stadium is not on the agenda of either club.

"We have a series of criteria which any prospective stadium must meet, and a shared stadium does not meet that criteria.

"When Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett took over Liverpool FC, they made it perfectly clear they were not interested."

Broomhead had claimed: "More and more, it looks like if we are to upgrade the sporting stadiums for Merseyside, the ground sharing option has to go back on the table.

"A fundamental economic appraisal of a ground share is needed.

"I have been invited to discussions at the end of next week with Kop Holdings."