Talks fail to deliver sports city concept

A TOP-LEVEL meeting has failed to deliver progress on new stadia for Liverpool and Everton football clubs.

LFC chief executive Christian Purslow and his Everton counterpart Robert Elstone sat down with city council officials and Liverpool University yesterday, at the instigation of the university. Liverpool FC made clear the club is committed to building a new £400m ground, despite its problems raising finance to fund the 60,000-seater.

It is understood a football quarter, as suggested by fans' group Keeping Everton in Our City (Keioc) was dismissed on the grounds that the £700m-plus price tag is unaffordable. But Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said the meeting was fruitful in helping draw up plans for a sports strategy for the city.

"We discussed how to develop a sports strategy - a sports city with the football clubs at the heart of it. It's inconceivable for me that we have not developed a sports city ethos. It's the next leg of the regeneration of the city."

He said Tom Cannon, Professor of Strategic Development at the University of Liverpool, will now speak to the Football Association to work on ideas.

The plans are currently in the concept stage, Cllr Bradley added.

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