By Kate7
March 16 2005

Everton directors have today distanced themselves from remarks uttered by Everton director Paul Clegg. His suggestion that the two Merseyside clubs should join forces to build a new joint stadium on the North Dock rather than Stanley Park. This, after Sports Minister Richard Caborn announced the deal ‘now dead in the water’ and that he would ensure that LFC’s 23 million grant from the NWDA would not be held up. Everton have issued a statement on the sharing idea, saying: "Whilst happy to encourage both open debate and freedom of speech, we wish to make it clear that Mr Gregg's comments are of a wholly personal nature and do not necessarily represent the views of the club's board of directors." However, the NWDA have announced they will make another bid to salvage the shared stadium idea later in the month with another meeting with both clubs. That would be strongly resisted by Liverpool, who have planning permission for the Stanley Park scheme, while Everton have also stated a shared stadium is no longer on the agenda. Gregg has said: "A shared stadium on Stanley Park would be a substantially different proposition and my understanding is that it would also require a fresh planning application. "Therefore it is absolutely vital that if we do commit to going down that road we need answers to two hugely important questions. "Firstly, is Stanley Park the best location in terms of impact and accessibility? "Secondly, is the Stanley Park stadium the best or only means of achieving the much-needed regeneration of this residential community? "These are big questions for the clubs, big questions for the city and big questions for the community in north Liverpool." What do you think? Are you fed up with this ongoing saga that Everton FC seem determined to scupper? Go to our MB's and give us your view.