Soccer: Everton and Liverpool reject groundshare

LONDON - Everton and Liverpool have scrapped tentative plans for the Premier League rivals to share a new stadium on Merseyside.

A year of talks sponsored by Sports Minister Richard Caborn that might have led to Everton sharing Liverpool's planned new ground at Stanley Park have ended in disagreement.

Liverpool City Council spokesman said on Tuesday: "It is disappointing that both sides have been unable to reach agreement on a joint stadium.

"However, the existing plan for a new Anfield is part of a major regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield area and we fully intend to deliver that because of the economic benefits it will bring to an area which badly needs them.

"Of course, we will also do everything we can to help Everton find a 21st century stadium for the club and its fans."

The groundshare idea had never been popular with supporters of either team and feelings also ran high among club officials, despite an economic case for sharing.

Local MP Peter Kilfoyle told the city's Daily Post that financing arrangements had been part of the problem.

But he added: "I don't think either of the two clubs at board level were ultimately supportive of it either.

"One or two individuals on either side were in favour but it was not enough because most were hostile."

In 2003, Everton shelved plans to move from Goodison Park to a new ground at Liverpool's King's Dock after the projected cost soared to nearly 200 million pounds.

Liverpool have been hit by the cost of moving to a planned new 60,000-seater stadium at Stanley Park rising from an estimated 80 million pounds to 110 million pounds.

Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Everton's website on Tuesday: "We have said all along that we had three options -- a shared stadium, the redevelopment of Goodison Park and a stand-alone stadium of our own."

- REUTERS