Government 'call in' threatens stadium plans

Everton's desire for a new stadium were thrown into doubt on Wednesday night when their plans to move to Kirkby were 'called in' by the Government.

The decision is a major blow to the club's plans to move to a stadium that is big enough to allow them to compete with the top sides in the Premier League.

The Government have now decided that they want to look at the whole scheme, bitterly opposed by Kirkby residents and many of the club's fans.

Everton have been involved in an on-going Everton row with a section of their support who are opposed to the move from Goodison Park to a new home outside the city boundaries in neighbouring Knowsley.

And this decision by the Government will be a major boost to those supporters who are furiously opposed to leaving the city.

Everton already have planning permission for the £400million scheme, a joint venture with Tesco.

But they have also faced fierce opposition from Kirkby residents, with the scheme likely to change the face of the town's centre.

Everton had been hoping their plans would get the go-ahead, but the decision is a serious blow to their wishes.

Former chief executive Keith Wyness, who quit last week, had gone on record as saying that any 'call in' would kill-off the whole plan to move from Goodison Park.

The club have consistently distanced themselves from that view, but this is still a real body blow during a summer that has seen them hit by continued discontent.