Everton fans' grounds for concern

Everton fans hope to set up home at The King's Dock

Everton fans have hit back at local MPs in a row over funding for the club's proposed new King's Dock stadium.

A group of MPs - including seven with Merseyside constituencies - drafted an Early Day Motion to the Commons expressing concern at Liverpool City Council's intention to divert European funds to help the project.

The King's Dock project, which includes Everton's new ground on the banks of the Mersey, is expected to apply for about £35m of European funding.

But the MPs fear the money would be lost to Merseyside if the scheme does not go ahead and questioned whether it served the wider interests of Merseysiders.

"Evertonians for the King's Dock" have conducted a consultation exercise. They insist vast sums of European cash available to Merseyside are currently unused.

And they also claim the £35m required for the project accounts for only 4% of the total European funds available for a period covering 2000 to 2006.

EFKD, which hoping to see recently appointed boss David Moyes lead the club into the new era, said in a statement: "The project does not "divert" funds.

"We urge all parties not to be taken in by this indirect attempt to undermine what is a truly excellent project for our city and region.

Moyes is leading Everton into new era

"The politicians of Merseyside have long-suffered from accusations of short-term parochialism (much of it undeserved) and we urge the Members concerned not give their opponents ammunition to tar them with the same brush.

"It is projects such as the King's Waterfront development and the proposed National Bio-Science Centre that will be threatened by opposition to projects that should be viewed as being of benefit to the region as a whole and not just to specific parts of the region.

"It would appear that politicians in Manchester are able to see the benefits of a football club (Manchester City FC) directly gaining from the substantial legacy (i.e. a complete new stadium) of a publicly-funded project such as the Commonwealth Stadium.

"The King's Waterfront development is a much more innovative project with real regenerative gains and large-scale sustainable job creation for the local and regional economy."

The statement added: "The wider interests of the people of Merseyside will be well served by the proposed development at King's Dock and is a fine use of public money.

"It is a remarkable multi-purpose arena for use both by the people of Merseyside generally, and by one of Merseyside's most enduring and important institutions, Everton Football Club.

"The other facilities proposed within the development are also of great benefit to the local community.

"The 50/50 split in the development between private and public partners ensures that the local population has a stake in the scheme, and this meshes well with Government policy."