Work on new Liverpool ground to begin in April

Construction on Liverpool’s new multi million pound stadium, that will eventually replace Anfield, will begin in April according to the leader of the Liverpool city council.

Councillor Warren Bradley has revealed that Liverpool are confident of finding the money necessary to begin work on the ground in the first quarter of 2010. The 60,000 capacity venue is to be built on Stanley Park and will form part of England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Bradley claimed: “Liverpool have come back to us and said they’re very close now to securing the finances and they want to move on as quickly as possible, not only for the World Cup bid but also for Liverpool Football Club, who see a new stadium as being the heart of the business plan. Liverpool’s chief executive Christian Purslow has told us that the club in the first quarter of next year should be able to move forward with the stadium. We have told them it’s time to move on now, it’s gone on too long. I honestly believe Christian Purslow has been open and honest with us. Hopefully in the first quarter of next year we will see some movement. Without doubt it’s not before time.”

Bradley also said that fresh talks for Everton’s new ground will begin during January.

He added: “We have got a meeting with Everton Football Club where we will put all our cards on the table. I will be there as will be Council chief executive Colin Hilton and executive director of regeneration John Kelly. We want to make sure that we can facilitate things for Everton FC. They want to discuss Bellefield and the stadium. We fully understand they need some commercial support for a stadium.”