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http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/793538/LIVERPOOL-STADIUM-PLANS-IN-JEOPARDY.html
LIVERPOOL risk seeing their plans for a new stadium on Stanley Park ditched for good.
In another dire twist for Kop fans wondering whether the £400m arena will ever be built, it's emerged the American owners still haven't secured the 999-year lease required to build on the historic site.
Without the lease, which costs £300,000 a year, Liverpool can't begin construction.
The local council expected the lease to be purchased TWO YEARS ago.
The club now has until September 2011 to restart the project before planning permission runs out.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr said the project was 'shelved' last season due to the credit crunch.
If they're forced to re-apply for planning permission in 17 months' time, it will be another lengthy and costly process with no guarantee of success.
Further delays are anticipated because new Kop chairman Martin Broughton last week stated if finance is ever secured the building work would be going back out to tender.
Previously, Liverpool's owners had an agreement with constructors Laing O'Rourke, who've now been told to re-apply for the contract.
In a move which further underlines there is no immediate prospect of leaving Anfield, the club will oversee a facelift of their own stadium this summer.
They're splashing out an estimated £500,000 on the renovation of existing executive boxes to improve their corporate facilities.
Council officials are understood to be 'extremely frustrated and anxious' that Liverpool are ploughing resources into improving their current home whilst the delays on the new arena continue.
A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "The main issue for us is about work on the stadium which will start the regeneration of the whole Anfield area."
LIVERPOOL risk seeing their plans for a new stadium on Stanley Park ditched for good.
In another dire twist for Kop fans wondering whether the £400m arena will ever be built, it's emerged the American owners still haven't secured the 999-year lease required to build on the historic site.
Without the lease, which costs £300,000 a year, Liverpool can't begin construction.
The local council expected the lease to be purchased TWO YEARS ago.
The club now has until September 2011 to restart the project before planning permission runs out.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr said the project was 'shelved' last season due to the credit crunch.
If they're forced to re-apply for planning permission in 17 months' time, it will be another lengthy and costly process with no guarantee of success.
Further delays are anticipated because new Kop chairman Martin Broughton last week stated if finance is ever secured the building work would be going back out to tender.
Previously, Liverpool's owners had an agreement with constructors Laing O'Rourke, who've now been told to re-apply for the contract.
In a move which further underlines there is no immediate prospect of leaving Anfield, the club will oversee a facelift of their own stadium this summer.
They're splashing out an estimated £500,000 on the renovation of existing executive boxes to improve their corporate facilities.
Council officials are understood to be 'extremely frustrated and anxious' that Liverpool are ploughing resources into improving their current home whilst the delays on the new arena continue.
A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "The main issue for us is about work on the stadium which will start the regeneration of the whole Anfield area."
