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      Werner Says No To GroundShare

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      MIRO
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      Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Oct 05, 2011 08:49:45 am
      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8799918/Everton-v-Liverpool-Anfield-chairman-Tom-Werner-says-groundshare-idea-is-dead.html

      Everton v Liverpool: Anfield chairman Tom Werner says groundshare idea is 'dead'
      Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has moved to kill off any prospect of a future groundshare with Everton, declaring the issue “dead”.

      In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Werner has spelt out Liverpool’s stringent opposition to any effort by Liverpool City Council to bring the two Merseyside clubs back to the negotiating table.

      He has revealed for the first time that if Liverpool are not able to modernise Anfield, they will design new plans for a stadium on Stanley Park rather than pursue either of the two existing schemes left by previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

      That would require a fresh planning application which could take a minimum of two more years before construction began.

      There is a history of aborted attempts to convince the Merseyside giants, who meet in Saturday’s Goodison derby, to join forces. On Friday, former culture secretary Andy Burnham MP, an Everton fan, backed a shared stadium and said there was a “political will” in the city to make it happen.

      Everton have even been asked to consider becoming Liverpool’s tenants in a new £300million stadium on Stanley Park, an unpalatable prospect for chairman Bill Kenwright.
         
      Despite the resistance, the financial consequences of the clubs’ failure to overcome their obstacles are sobering. Liverpool earn £60million less than Manchester United in annual matchday revenue. Until they renovate or move, they will fall additional millions behind every season.

      For Everton, there is nothing on the horizon. Since the collapse of proposals to move to a 55,000-seat stadium in Kirkby in 2009, Kenwright has been searching for an investor to finance new plans. Liverpool’s attempt to permanently end the groundshare debate will close another door as Everton fight to keep in touch with the Premier League elite.

      Werner is adamant no matter how challenging Liverpool’s stadium issues, Fenway Sports Group will vehemently resist groundshare negotiations.

      “We knew it would be complicated when we took over the club but we are still optimistic of finding the right solution,” said Werner. “Everyone knows the two options we are examining - staying at Anfield or a new build on the park - and although we have been pressured for a timetable we have not responded to that pressure because we do not want our fans to be disappointed.

      “We have been told countless times by our supporters that they have no desire for us to share a stadium and we have listened to that. Our supporters are not for it, therefore it is a dead issue. I have said before you can never say it will never be raised again, but although there are obstacles on Anfield redevelopment and on the issue of naming rights, I believe they are surmountable.

      “People can say whatever they want about how long a decision takes but as far as we are concerned the situation is exactly as we knew it would be when we purchased the club. It is our intention to not only enhance the playing environment around Liverpool Football Club, but also the neighbourhood. We appreciate the surrounding area is not Mayfair. We want to be the catalyst for employment and to look after those in the vicinity, assisting the local economy.”

      The most recent groundshare talks were engineered by city councillors shortly after FSG’s takeover in 2010. One of the most incendiary suggestions is for Everton to lease a new stadium from Liverpool once it is built.

      At an earlier joint meeting of the clubs with former Sports Minister Richard Caborn in 2008, Liverpool rejected a 50-50 ownership split because Everton could not afford their half of the costs. That remains the club’s stance.

      Inevitably, Everton refused any deal in which they were not equal partners.

      A similar tenancy agreement operates in Munich’s Allianz Arena between Bayern and 1860 Munich. A visit to the stadium by John W Henry in August prompted suggestions he may be interested in recreating such an arrangement on Merseyside.

      “John visited the Allianz Arena recently as part of his education in European football generally,” explained Werner. “We are learning more and educating ourselves every day.

      “You are aware of the matchday revenue figures for Europe and the Premier League’s biggest clubs and we need to find the solution to bridge this gap. When you analyse those figures you see the importance of us raising revenues globally through a variety of means, including through our TV channel which presents many possibilities given the club’s worldwide popularity. It is vitally important we keep up with up with what our rivals are doing so we are challenging in the future.

      “We have played at Anfield for a long time and we have not given up on that continuing but the other option remains. If we are going to spend upwards of £300 million on a new stadium, it is a fair assumption to say we will be assessing other designs other than the Hicks Stadium. Far from downhearted, I am very encouraged about the possibilities.

      “What the supporters want most is a winning club and that is something we are in the process of improving.

      “We are encouraged by the start of the season although we could have had a few more points, but our aim is to get back into the top four.”

      Reprobate
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      Re: Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Reply #1: Oct 05, 2011 08:54:50 am
      He has revealed for the first time that if Liverpool are not able to modernise Anfield, they will design new plans for a stadium on Stanley Park rather than pursue either of the two existing schemes left by previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

      That would require a fresh planning application which could take a minimum of two more years before construction began.

      :mad: :mad:
      PGlynn91
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      Re: Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Reply #2: Oct 05, 2011 11:53:45 pm
      At least we would not be sharing with the Bitters.
      Macedonian_Red
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      Re: Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Reply #3: Oct 06, 2011 02:32:15 am
      The most recent groundshare talks were engineered by city councillors shortly after FSG’s takeover in 2010. One of the most incendiary suggestions is for Everton to lease a new stadium from Liverpool once it is built.

      At an earlier joint meeting of the clubs with former Sports Minister Richard Caborn in 2008, Liverpool rejected a 50-50 ownership split because Everton could not afford their half of the costs. That remains the club’s stance.

      Inevitably, Everton refused any deal in which they were not equal partners.

      A similar tenancy agreement operates in Munich’s Allianz Arena between Bayern and 1860 Munich. A visit to the stadium by John W Henry in August prompted suggestions he may be interested in recreating such an arrangement on Merseyside.

      “John visited the Allianz Arena recently as part of his education in European football generally,” explained Werner. “We are learning more and educating ourselves every day.

      The funny thing about the Allianz Arena is that the stadium was initially built as a joint investment by Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich ... On the basis of that groundshare agreement, the local and the regional government have invested additional €200 million in area development and infrastructure improvement around the new stadium, that has cost €350 million itself ... Of course, TSV 1860 Munich were never able to cover their 50% of the maintenance costs, so they have sold their half of the stadium to Bayern Munich really cheap, and continued to play at the stadium as tenants ...
      macca8
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      Re: Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Reply #4: Oct 06, 2011 02:36:17 pm
      Lease...hmm let me think. Take 95% of what their gate collection per annum and leave 5% to the stewards. You give them money they'll spend blindly on 15 year old kid. Seriously, f**k them!
      HUYTON RED
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      Re: Werner Says No To GroundShare
      Reply #5: Oct 07, 2011 02:04:10 pm
      Let the blueshite rot!

      Just like their current ground.

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