rick parry déclare dans le times que les instances publiques inspectent en ce moment avec beaucoup de précaution le dossier sur le nouveau stade.
il dit que c'est normal que ça prenne du temps.
il est confiant dans le fait que l'etat peut donner de l'argent mais qu'il est normal qu'ils prennent leur temps.
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THE pieces continue to fall into place for Rafael Benítez at Liverpool, who signed one international defender, Jan Kronkamp, from Villarreal yesterday and expects to secure a deal for another, Daniel Agger, when negotiations with Brondby reopen today.
The astonishing pace of the so-called “Rafa-lution” has delighted a club who had feared that they could not return to their former glories without a significant injection of cash. Now Rick Parry, the chief executive, hopes that the board will be able to fulfil its part of the bargain by securing outside investment and making a long-awaited breakthrough in its attempt to move to the new stadium that it considers vital to the club’s growth.
It is 5½ years since Liverpool announced plans to relocate to a new 60,000-capacity stadium on nearby Stanley Park and almost two years since they revealed that they were actively seeking outside investment. They have encountered numerous obstacles on both fronts, but Parry — who held talks about investment and stadium funding with Robert Kraft, the head of one of America’s richest families, in November — is hopeful that supporters will soon see signs of real progress.
Parry admits that it would be “tight” to meet a symbolic target of 2008, when Liverpool will be European Capital of Culture, but believes that progress is imminent. “It (2008) needs a lot to come together, but it’s not ruled out,” Parry said. “Clearly the investment issue and the stadium are linked, but I’m hopeful that both will come to a head in the first half of the new year. There’s a tremendous amount of work going on and we’ll see what the new year brings.”
The cost of the new stadium has risen from an initial £80 million to about £150 million, with Liverpool’s problems compounded by the concerns of the public sector. The Northwest Development Agency has so far withheld a significant amount of funding for the project, indicating that it would be more willing if the club considered sharing their new stadium with Everton, while Objective 1, another potential source of funding, has also expressed misgivings.
Liverpool discussed a ground-share option with Everton a year ago, but they remain opposed and are hopeful that the public sector will be persuaded on the value of an independent project.
“We don’t see it as an unwillingness to help (by the public sector),” Parry said. “People are looking at the project carefully and evaluating it carefully. But we’ve not spoken to too many people who feel a new stadium is a bad idea. There are clearly decisions required on the funding. That’s the issue, but hopefully we’re not too far away.”
The immediate priority is strengthening the team. Kronkamp, the Holland full back, completed his move from Villarreal yesterday in a straight swap with Josémi, while negotiations with Brondby will reopen today over Agger, the 21-year-old Denmark central defender.
Talks over Agger had been on hold as Per Bjerregaard, the Brondby chief executive, was on holiday, but a fee in the region of £5.5 million is likely to be agreed.
Christian Bolanos, the Deportivo Saprissa winger, is on trial with Liverpool after impressing Benítez in the recent Club World Championship in Japan.
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