LIVERPOOL'S American owners today denied claims that the company contracted to the club's new stadium has been stood down.
But fears persist that the project may now be held up for more than year.
Rumours surfaced yesterday that builders Laing O'Rourke and other companies involved in the building of the Reds new stadium had been ordered to down tools.
But Jonathan Brill, London-based spokesman for Kop Football Ltd which represents Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, insisted this is not the case.
He said: "Laing O'Rourke are still very much part of the team here.
"Obviously because of the delay in the stadium there may not be as much work at present.
“But we can categorically say they have not been stood down and are still part of our team."
The start of basic ‘enabling works’ on the new stadium were announced with a loud fanfare this summer, and began on June 23.
But only last month the club confirmed a "short term" delay in the project.
The problem was believed to be a lack of funds due in part to the American economic downturn and credit crunch climate.
Hicks and Gillett have until January to seek and secure a refinancing package on the £350m they took out, but until then appear to have run out funds to continue work on the stadium.
Laing O'Rourke chiefs have come to believe construction of the £350m stadium will not start until the end of 2009 at the earliest.
A source said to be close to the project was quoted earlier this month in the building trade magazine Contract Journal, saying: "The earliest date the contractors are looking at starting on the stadium is late next year - if it happens at all.
"The bottom line is that the club has no money.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-21938940/
But fears persist that the project may now be held up for more than year.
Rumours surfaced yesterday that builders Laing O'Rourke and other companies involved in the building of the Reds new stadium had been ordered to down tools.
But Jonathan Brill, London-based spokesman for Kop Football Ltd which represents Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, insisted this is not the case.
He said: "Laing O'Rourke are still very much part of the team here.
"Obviously because of the delay in the stadium there may not be as much work at present.
“But we can categorically say they have not been stood down and are still part of our team."
The start of basic ‘enabling works’ on the new stadium were announced with a loud fanfare this summer, and began on June 23.
But only last month the club confirmed a "short term" delay in the project.
The problem was believed to be a lack of funds due in part to the American economic downturn and credit crunch climate.
Hicks and Gillett have until January to seek and secure a refinancing package on the £350m they took out, but until then appear to have run out funds to continue work on the stadium.
Laing O'Rourke chiefs have come to believe construction of the £350m stadium will not start until the end of 2009 at the earliest.
A source said to be close to the project was quoted earlier this month in the building trade magazine Contract Journal, saying: "The earliest date the contractors are looking at starting on the stadium is late next year - if it happens at all.
"The bottom line is that the club has no money.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-21938940/
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