Stadium plans discussed

Liverpool and Everton will decide by the end of this month whether they can share a ground - but the obstacles to such an arrangement continue to look insurmountable.

Officials from the clubs met the British sports minister, Richard Caborn, in London yesterday to discuss the possibilities, and agreed to make a final decision before the New Year.

The talks ended in deadlock, however, without a satisfactory solution being found.

Everton chief executive Keith Wyness said: "All parties have agreed we will have one last look at the option of a groundshare with a view to finalising our thoughts by the end of the year. It was an exploratory meeting and the groundshare option is one of several under review by the club."

Liverpool already have planning permission for a 60,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park but are around £30 million short of meeting the £110 million cost and are due to announce debts of £21 million at their a.g.m. tonight.

They have applied for a grant from the North West Development Agency (NWDA), but that is only available for a shared ground.

It is understood Liverpool would only be happy to allow Everton to share the ground under a rental arrangement, but that is regarded as unacceptable by Toffees fans who would want a 50 per cent ownership share as a minimum requirement.

Caborn hopes the matter will now be resolved one way or the other. He said: "It was a very interesting meeting. A number of things have been explored and it is now down to the clubs to make a decision on what they want to do."

Meanwhile, Birmingham managing director Karren Brady believes plans to build a 60,000-seater stadium represent a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for the city. It is proposed to build the stadium on a 50-acre council-owned site in the Saltley area of the city, incorporating a so-called super-casino.

Brady said the development would provide a venue for pop concerts, cricket and top-class athletics, as well as replacing the club's current St Andrews home.

Sebastian Sainsbury is awaiting assurances from the Leeds board that the identity of his backers will be protected before authorising the transfer of the £25 million that would push through his takeover.