Everton's stadium boost

Everton want to quit Goodison Park for King's Dock

Everton are a step closer to winning their battle to build a new 55,000-seater stadium on Liverpool's waterfront.

It is believed the fight to win the right to develop on the city's prestigious King's Dock site is now a two-horse race.

And Everton's plan to build a state-of-the-art stadium is understood to be the clear favourite to get the nod when a decision is announced next month.

Five bids were tabled for development on the 36-acre site, but the decision now appears to rest between Houston Securites - the group behind Everton's programme - and Ician.

Ician is a consortium which wants to develop Liverpool's waterfront into a so-called "Venice of the North".

Everton are scheduled to make a presentation on Friday to the board of Liverpool Vision, the regeneration company with the job of deciding who will be the preferred bidder.

Bill Kenwright - hopeful

Their recommendation will then go forward to the full board of the site's owners, English Partnership, on 15 May for a final decision.

English Partnership inherited the land from the now defunct Merseyside Development Corporation.

Everton's Head of Coroporate Affairs and Public Relations, Ian Ross, told BBC Sport Online: "The announcement is still some way off, but we remain cautiously optimistic.

"The club has put a tremendous amount of effort and hard work into the bid, and we remain convinced it is the best on offer. We now simply have to wait and hope."

Owner Bill Kenwright believes the new stadium will be a major factor in regenerating the club.

"This plan would genuinely give us the impetus to power forward with a major revival in the 21st century," said Kenwright.

"Behind it is one fundamental desire - for Everton Football Club to be on a par with anything the world's top clubs can offer."

He added: "Goodison Park will never be replaced in the eyes of our fans, but I am determined that if we move to a new stadium, its magnificence will stand proudly alongside the wonderful memories we have at our present home."