If news that the planned '£9m' retail and hospitality development 'Everton Place' will now not open until the summer of 2012 came as no real surprise to long-suffering supporters, the cross-wired explanation emanating from within the club as to the reasons behind the 12 month delay, only served to re-enforce the general consensus concerning the powers-that-be at Goodison Park.
Addressing the concerns of shareholders, the club announced work on the development would begin in December 2010. Broadcast as being a 'cash-positive' project and at 'no cost to the club,' the four-storey building, incorporating a club shop, museum, café, corporate hospitality and administrative offices would be completed prior to the 2011-12 season.
In November 2010 the 'Club Everton' hospitality tent was removed, followed quickly by the re-housing of the much-loved Dixie Dean statue in preparation for the commencement of on-site work. Alongside this, planning permission was applied for and obtained for land close to Goodison Park to replace the lost parking spaces at the Park End.
All systems go then, at least that's how it seemed at the time.......
In February of this year, with no visible progress having been made, shareholders were informed by Robert Elstone, that the delay was due to "minor legal issues," with the CEO giving reassurances that work would be starting "soon." Later that same month and somewhat ominously, Mr Elstone in his official blog expanded on this explaining that "We expect to start work soon as we wade through some complex legal matters."
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[/caption]On Wednesday March 23 and coinciding with the unexpected lifting of a local press ban, the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo reported that the development had now been delayed until the summer of 2012, 'the club say the complexities surrounding IT moves and office relocation make it sensible to avoid a mid-season move.'
According to the preposterously titled 'Head of External Affairs,' Ian Ross:
“This has been the acknowledged target date for some time as operationally it would have been difficult to open it mid-season. All of our partners are happy with the current timetable.
“This is a complex project involving several partners which when completed will deliver a prestigious multi-use building, one which will unquestionably benefit both club and supporters.”
In a later edition of the publication, Mr Ross felt the need to clarify the clubs position by claiming his CEO's previous reasons for the delay, surrounding "complex legal issues" were in fact incorrect:
'Today Mr Ross denied legal issues were the cause of the schedule change.'
Interestingly and 5 days in advance of Ian Ross' 'IT relocation' excuses published in the local press, the Everton supporters pressure group, KEIOC, reported a very different take on their website:
'Further examples of this contemptuous relationship are numerous; shareholders were told construction of the boards latest solution to our inept commercial ability, the development at the park end, was due to commence in December, following the West Bromwich home game, yet nothing has happened.
The little known official explanation, that some minor "legal difficulties" are being experienced, is being offered, yet for some time now KEIOC's information, from their club source, has indicated that "funding difficulties" are the greater problem as, yet again, Everton discover that there's no such thing as a free lunch, that mysterious and unexplainable deals aren't as cash positive as one would like to think and that nothing is, dare we say, effectively free.
The fans and shareholders are, as ever, being kept completely in the dark as to the degree of concessions to our "partners," concessions that may benefit them greatly yet see us firmly at the bottom of the premiership club commercial revenue generation league; a result that highlights Everton's commercial performance equating to just 11% of our total income whilst our peers deliver double and treble this amount.'
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[/caption]Who to believe then? What excuse should we supporters plump for? Is there a 'delay' or a 'schedule change?' Are we backing CEO Robert Elstone and his "legal Issues" or getting behind Head of External Affairs Ian Ross and his 'can't find a decent removal company' story? Or, with rumours circulating of a construction firm 'pulling-out' of the planned development, are the "funding difficulties" suggested by KEIOC closer to the mark?
It would seem in any case and once more all to sadly and predictably, concerned Evertonians, due to the glaring mixed-messages coming out of the club, are left to come to their own conclusions.........
