Secret documents detailing an agreement between Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club to construct and share a new stadium have been leaked to the national press.
A 44-page document which includes photographs of how each club would retain their identity have been published in one of Britain's leading broadsheets.
The agreement was reached in December before new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks officially came in and today's reports claim that the duo could now back out of their takeover under Section 69 of the American Expansion In Europe Act 1991.
Both Gillett and Hicks are reportedly said to be furious that they hadn't been made aware of the agreememt prior to taking control.
According to their people, work on Stanley Park had ceased so that they could review the original plans but when American architects suggested how they could increase capacity, Everton officials became concerned and demanded an investigation into why the joint 2006 agreement - which was accepted and approved by the local planning committee - had been ignored.
A spokesperson for the Liverpool City Council is quoted as saying: "Preliminary consent was granted to both clubs to build a new shared stadium on the outskirts of Liverpool. That option was then taken up by both clubs at the end of 2006.
"The ability to provide greater transport links and more private parking facilities was very attractive to the council and was one of the main reasons why the council supported the application.
"A new shared park and ride scheme will continue to bring tourists into the city even on non-match days with regular shuttle buses to Tescos (new Everton sponsors) and Starbucks (new Liverpool FC sponsor?) at various points across Merseyside. Both clubs have agreed to meet the costs in providing these services.
"Regeneration will continue in the Anfield area with Liverpool Football Club officials pledging to use their existing Anfield site to cater for various youth groups in the area."
Although Liverpool Football Club have refused to comment officially on the matter, executives there are said to be locked in talks with their new owners to discuss a possible solution.
Because of the risk of losing key European grants, Liverpool officials had to act incase the deal with the Americans fell through. But had the Reds held out a little longer before agreeing the Everton link up, extra finances would have been available for our own stadium as a result of the takeover coming to a swift conclusion.
Although the European grants were key to the shock agreement, Liverpool officials are rumoured to have negotiated Everton into paying more towards the construction of the new stadium.
Anfield remains silent but at Goodison they've been more vocal.
Head of Public Relations at Everton, Casey Ferguson, said: "An agreement is in place to proceed with the shared construction of a new stadium for both clubs.
"We became concerned at the talk of Liverpool's new owners reviewing plans which as far as we were concerned, had been cancelled in January 2007.
"Under European Law the joint construction must go ahead on July 1st."
A 44-page document which includes photographs of how each club would retain their identity have been published in one of Britain's leading broadsheets.
The agreement was reached in December before new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks officially came in and today's reports claim that the duo could now back out of their takeover under Section 69 of the American Expansion In Europe Act 1991.
Both Gillett and Hicks are reportedly said to be furious that they hadn't been made aware of the agreememt prior to taking control.
According to their people, work on Stanley Park had ceased so that they could review the original plans but when American architects suggested how they could increase capacity, Everton officials became concerned and demanded an investigation into why the joint 2006 agreement - which was accepted and approved by the local planning committee - had been ignored.
A spokesperson for the Liverpool City Council is quoted as saying: "Preliminary consent was granted to both clubs to build a new shared stadium on the outskirts of Liverpool. That option was then taken up by both clubs at the end of 2006.
"The ability to provide greater transport links and more private parking facilities was very attractive to the council and was one of the main reasons why the council supported the application.
"A new shared park and ride scheme will continue to bring tourists into the city even on non-match days with regular shuttle buses to Tescos (new Everton sponsors) and Starbucks (new Liverpool FC sponsor?) at various points across Merseyside. Both clubs have agreed to meet the costs in providing these services.
"Regeneration will continue in the Anfield area with Liverpool Football Club officials pledging to use their existing Anfield site to cater for various youth groups in the area."
Although Liverpool Football Club have refused to comment officially on the matter, executives there are said to be locked in talks with their new owners to discuss a possible solution.
Because of the risk of losing key European grants, Liverpool officials had to act incase the deal with the Americans fell through. But had the Reds held out a little longer before agreeing the Everton link up, extra finances would have been available for our own stadium as a result of the takeover coming to a swift conclusion.
Although the European grants were key to the shock agreement, Liverpool officials are rumoured to have negotiated Everton into paying more towards the construction of the new stadium.
Anfield remains silent but at Goodison they've been more vocal.
Head of Public Relations at Everton, Casey Ferguson, said: "An agreement is in place to proceed with the shared construction of a new stadium for both clubs.
"We became concerned at the talk of Liverpool's new owners reviewing plans which as far as we were concerned, had been cancelled in January 2007.
"Under European Law the joint construction must go ahead on July 1st."
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