Work on new Liverpool FC stadium delayed until late 2009
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2008/09/10/61085/work-on-new-liverpool-fc-stadium-delayed-until-late-2009.htmlBy Grant Prior
Laing O'Rourke chiefs believe construction of Liverpool FC's planned new £350m stadium will not start until the end of 2009 at the earliest.
The football club confirmed a "short term" delay in the project last month.
But a source close to the project told CJ that work will not get under-way for more than a year.
The source said: "The earliest date the contractors are looking at starting is late next year if it happens at all.
"The bottom line is that the club has no money. Laing O'Rourke has been in discussions with them for the last two years where they have been constantly paring down the design because they can't come up with the funds."
Preparatory work on the site in Stanley Park started earlier this year and the stadium was originally due to be finished by August 2011.
That deadline has now shifted and club sources said Liverpool's owners are now "actively targeting the start of the 2012/13 season".
The American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett took control of the club 18 months ago.
On completing the deal the pair declared that work would start on a new 60,000 seater stadium within 60 days.
But the project has fallen victim to the credit crunch as the owners struggled to raise funds.
A club spokesman said that no new start date has been agreed, but denied it would be as late as the end of 2009.
News of further delays will spark outrage among supporters who are already calling for the club to be sold to new owners.
Laing O'Rourke is insisting that it has not fallen out with the club over delays.
A spokesperson said: "We continue to work closely with Liverpool Football Club in order to achieve their ambitions of constructing the new football stadium. We further wish to clarify that we have not considered legal action against Liverpool Football Club."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A contractors view on things basically Hicks & Gillett dont have a pot to piss, this is a massive blow for Liverpools local labour force with the housing sector in free fall, perhaps they are waiting for the industry to recover so they can blame the lack of available labour for the next delay