Liverpool Given Deadline On New Stadium -23/09/2006

Liverpool have been told to provide evidence of how they will fund their proposed new £180m stadium at Stanley Park or risk losing European funding that is an essential component of the project. Councillor Flo Lucas, the chair of the Merseyside [EU] Objective One committee that will provide the funding along with the North-West Development Agency demanded that the club provide evidence by this weekend that it has the means to fund the ground. The final decision will be made on Thursday 28 September. The club hoped to start work on the new stadium next spring, but despite searching for three years Liverpol have not attracted an offer matching David Moores' valuation. Up to six candidates are interested in Moores' 51 per cent shareholding, including the building magnate Steven Morgan, the US-based Kraft family and a consortium from the Middle East.