 ANY lingering hopes that Liverpool and Everton football clubs will share a stadium on Merseyside are now over. The Daily Post can reveal that both have sent official notification that they have rejected the idea to the Government, Liverpool council and the North West Development Agency. Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle, who brokered talks between the clubs and Sports Minister Richard Caborn in December, confirmed last night a shared stadium would not happen. He said: "It is dead. The bottom line has always been that Everton did not have the money to buy into a joint stadium. "There was no mechanism to enable them to do it using public money and it has always been a case of Everton trying to find £60-£65m. "I don't think either of the two clubs at board level were ultimately supportive of it either. "One or two individuals on either side were in favour but it was not enough because most were hostile." It is understood that the boards of both clubs considered the matter at the end of last week. A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said last night: "It is disappointing that both sides have been unable to reach agreement on a joint stadium. "However, the existing plan for a new Anfield is part of a major regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield area and we fully intend to help deliver that because of the economic benefits it will bring to an area which badly needs them. "Of course we will also do everything we can to help Everton find a 21st century stadium for the club and its fans." Sources confirmed that rejections from both clubs had been sent to the public sector agencies who had been trying to negotiate a shared ground on Stanley Park. A senior public source said: "There was a meeting just before Christmas where the pros and cons were discussed by all parties. The boards of both clubs met at the end of last week, Liverpool certainly with a proper full board meeting at Anfield. "Both clubs have now decided not to proceed and rejections have been sent to all the agencies. The dream is dead, long live the dream." | 
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