Everton have confirmed that they are looking at plans for the club to move to a new stadium in Walton Hall Park. The club will work alongside Liverpool City Council and housing association Liverpool Mutual Homes, among other partners, to try to bring the proposal to fruition, and hope it would form part of the regeneration of North Liverpool. The council are keen to see a comprehensive regeneration of the area and believe more than 1,000 jobs could be created in the process. Although details are vague at present, it is believed the club would have to fund the stadium on their own and would receive no financial support from the council. The Liverpool Echo estimates the stadium would cost around £200 million and would be part funded by a naming rights deal and the sale of current home Goodison Park. However, there are no current details on how the club would provide the additional necessary funds to build a new stadium. Evertons stadium debate has been an issue for most of the past 20 years, with former chairman Peter Johnson first raising the issue in 1996. The club has failed to move from Goodison Park already, the first instance being a failed attempt to move to the Kings Dock in 2003, after they failed to raise the £30m required for their part of the project. That site later became the location of Liverpools Echo Arena. A later proposed idea came in the shape of the ill-fated proposal to move to Kirkby in 2007, one that divided the fan base entirely. The £400m move would have seen Everton move from Goodison Park to a 50,000-seat stadium in Kirkby as part of a complex with a Tesco superstore and other shops. The main complaint from fans was that the club would be moving out of the city boundaries, with many at the time opposed to the plans. It was eventually rejected by Government. Current Chairman Bill Kenwright has already spoken on the matter and believes the chance to relocate is too good to miss. He said: On my journey to our home games, as I pass Walton Hall Park, I inevitably think that I am only a minute away from our beloved Goodison. For several years now Ive also thought, if only it was available for our new stadium, it ticks all the boxes. "It would fill me with great pride, it could be something very special for our city, the residents of North Liverpool and all Evertonians a new home that goes beyond football and does what Everton does better than anyone else. "To get every aspect right will take time as well as the continued support weve received to date from Joe Anderson and his colleagues at the council." Chief Executive Robert Elstone added: "We are delighted to be the conduit for the council's commitment to enhancing the outlook of the residents of north Liverpool. "We are equally delighted to be exploring an opportunity that allows us to reinforce our commitment to our fans. We don't know how long the journey will take but we won't lack stamina or commitment. It is also essential that we bring fans with us."
