28 2006
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
THE fate of the long-running bid by Liverpool FC to build a new stadium is expected to be decided today.
The region's European funding decision makers will meet at lunchtime to determine if the club will get £9m of vital funding.
If it has failed to submit documents proving it has the money to finance the Stanley Park scheme, then the committee is certain to throw out its application.
It would make the club's bid to build the stadium almost impossible in its current form, as it needs the public money to fund the regeneration work around the site. Without a shop-lined Anfield Plaza on the current ground, and the restoration of the rest of Stanley Park, its planning permission is invalid.
The club lost its preferred bidder status for the cash earlier this year after failing to show the Objective 1 committee any proof that it had the funds in place to go ahead with its part of the deal.
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It has continued to remain silent, missing deadlines set by Cllr Flo Clucas, who heads the Objective 1 committee, to file the necessary papers.
Today it will go up against a number of other Merseyside regeneration schemes wanting a slice of the cash.
Cllr Clucas last night said: "We will be discussing a range of projects. I cannot discuss the documents because they are confidential, but we will only be considering the ones we have received."
Two or three potential bidders are eagerly waiting to buy a major and possibly controlling stake of the famous club. Millionaire housebuilder Steve Morgan is among those thought to have placed an offer before the Anfield board, his fifth attempt to buy the club.
A new owner is believed to be key to putting together the money needed for the £180m scheme.
The political will in the city has been behind the ambitious plan because it is expected to pump £235m into the area, create more than 700 jobs, restore Stanley Park and its conservatory, and attract half a million more tourists a year.
Councillors approved the regeneration side of the scheme and agreed a 999-year lease on the section of parkland needed for the ground.
But officials have also been adamant the deadline cannot be postponed any longer because European
regulations mean the cash must be spent soon, or it will be lost forever.
The club needs to win the cash today if it has any chance of scooping £5m of other European money as well £9.2m in matched funding from the Northwest Development Agency
A spokeswoman for Objective 1 said: "We will make a statement as soon as possible."
[email protected]
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
THE fate of the long-running bid by Liverpool FC to build a new stadium is expected to be decided today.
The region's European funding decision makers will meet at lunchtime to determine if the club will get £9m of vital funding.
If it has failed to submit documents proving it has the money to finance the Stanley Park scheme, then the committee is certain to throw out its application.
It would make the club's bid to build the stadium almost impossible in its current form, as it needs the public money to fund the regeneration work around the site. Without a shop-lined Anfield Plaza on the current ground, and the restoration of the rest of Stanley Park, its planning permission is invalid.
The club lost its preferred bidder status for the cash earlier this year after failing to show the Objective 1 committee any proof that it had the funds in place to go ahead with its part of the deal.
Story continues
ADVERTISEMENT
It has continued to remain silent, missing deadlines set by Cllr Flo Clucas, who heads the Objective 1 committee, to file the necessary papers.
Today it will go up against a number of other Merseyside regeneration schemes wanting a slice of the cash.
Cllr Clucas last night said: "We will be discussing a range of projects. I cannot discuss the documents because they are confidential, but we will only be considering the ones we have received."
Two or three potential bidders are eagerly waiting to buy a major and possibly controlling stake of the famous club. Millionaire housebuilder Steve Morgan is among those thought to have placed an offer before the Anfield board, his fifth attempt to buy the club.
A new owner is believed to be key to putting together the money needed for the £180m scheme.
The political will in the city has been behind the ambitious plan because it is expected to pump £235m into the area, create more than 700 jobs, restore Stanley Park and its conservatory, and attract half a million more tourists a year.
Councillors approved the regeneration side of the scheme and agreed a 999-year lease on the section of parkland needed for the ground.
But officials have also been adamant the deadline cannot be postponed any longer because European
regulations mean the cash must be spent soon, or it will be lost forever.
The club needs to win the cash today if it has any chance of scooping £5m of other European money as well £9.2m in matched funding from the Northwest Development Agency
A spokeswoman for Objective 1 said: "We will make a statement as soon as possible."
[email protected]
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