Liverpool will not share ground with Everton

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett, Jr. said there are no plans to share its new stadium with rivals English Everton, and there have never been any talks between the two clubs concerning it. The construction of the club's new Stanley Park stadium has been made a priority since the takeover of Liverpool last week.

"We've been asked that a lot. In fact, when I went through customs they weren't going to clear my passport unless I swore I wasn't going to do stadium sharing," Gillett told Sky Sports 1. So I'm here and I did reaffirm our commitment to building our own stadium.

"We have never talked about it with Everton or anyone on their behalf and I think it's highly unlikely we ever would. It's not a subject that's even on the agenda."

Plans are now to increase the capacity to 60,000. Construction should begin in May or June.

"We would hope as soon as possible, May or June perhaps," said Gillett. "But there are a lot of planning considerations.

"What we want to do is give the Liverpool supporters a stadium that's competitive with the other leading clubs in the Premiership. That required some slight changes in the plans. We're trying to do it within the existing planning guidelines. We may need some modifications of that. That may take a little time.

Gillet said predetermining a tine line would be a difficult matter.

Before stepping down, former chairman David Moores had secured planning permission to build a new stadium in the nearby Stanley Park. This means there will already be licence to expand if the club wants to.

Gillett has urged Liverpool supporters to show patience as he looks to make the perfect deal that would allow an increased capacity in the future.

"To be competitive we must be patient because any decision we make today will have to last for 50 or more years," he said on the club's official website.

"And so, with this in mind, we want to be very cautious. What I am asking for is that everyone shows patience and gives us a little time. Decisions about modifications will be taken very carefully. What we want to do is build a stadium that will comply with the seating capacity approval but be expandable. "As the fans demand more seats we want to be able to give them to them."

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.