IMAGES of the new design will be released later this week, and fans can expect a traditional looking stadium with four stands. Mr Wyness insisted that the cost of the stadium, which will have a capacity of between 50,000 and 55,000, will have no impact on the team. He said: “The money to build the stadium is completely different to the money that goes on the team. This is bricks and mortar. “But the extra revenue brought in from the new stadium will enable us to better compete on the pitch. It means that there will be more money flowing back to the manager, something in the region of £10m a year.” The result of the ballot will not be totally binding on the club, as the board will have the final say, though Mr Wyness admitted it would be difficult to go against an overwhelming majority. But the future looks bleak if for any reason it is forced to remain at Goodison, which has been its home since 1892, with it understood the club may not be able to secure safety certificates for parts of the ground in 10 years’ time. Mr Wyness said: “There is a long way to go. If the fans vote in favour, which I am confident they will, we still have to go through the planning stages. “There are potential for delays, but if everything goes smoothly, we could be ready by 2010. “If we have to carry on at Goodison, there will be serious issues. “Attendance numbers will go down and then revenue will go down and when that happens, you can’t compete. There is no Plan B. There is no other option.” Fans will be asked to review the plans in detail before they vote in the ballot in the first week of August with the results due later that month. THEY will be shown transportation plans, to reassure them that Kirkby is the right location. Mr Wyness added: “We are trying to be as inclusive and open as possible. The fans are a very important part of the process.” The board will choose the question the fans will vote on, with the help of the Electoral Reform Society. But last night, Dave Kelly, spokesman for Keep Everton In Our City, said the campaign group was becoming “increasingly concerned” with the club’s ballot plans and was appealing for every match-going supporter to be able to vote. He said: “We believe that anybody who is a match-going Everton supporter should be able to take part in the ballot, simple as that. “Supporters of the so-called People’s Club should not be disenfranchised.” KEIOC say they are scheduled to meet with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright in London on Thursday for an agenda they expected to include the ballot. Mr Kelly added: “He said he will put six or seven hours aside to discuss the ground move and the ballot, so I am shocked at their announcement. “We had assurances it would be the first of a series of meetings to discuss any fears and seek our input. “Now they are saying they will enter into no further negotiations now they are in the ballot process. “They gave us assurance there would be a consultation on this. “Now the people of Kirkby are going to have a consultation but no ballot, and Everton supporters are going to have a ballot but no consultation.” A SPOKESPERSON for Knowsley Council said: “Everton’s move to ballot their fans marks a further phase in the consultation on the possibility of Kirkby becoming the new location for the football club. It is critical that the opinions of Everton fans are known alongside the views of our own community. “Thousands of Kirkby residents and businesses have already had their say on how they want to see their town centre developed through a series of consultation events including a two-day community consultation drop in, which was followed up with a postal questionnaire to every household in Kirkby, neighbourhood meetings, meetings with businesses and a road show. “We asked anyone with an interest in Kirkby to tell us what improvements they want to see made to their town centre. “The results are being independently analysed and will be published in August.”
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