Barry Horne: Everton left in limbo due to Kirkby stadium chaos

That thorny issue is tied up with the equally convoluted and messy situation regarding the proposed move to a new stadium in Kirkby, the plans for which have been called in by the government and will not now be resolved any time soon.

That leaves everyone and everything in a state of limbo and allied to the sense of confusion is the departure of chief executive Keith Wyness, which also seemed to be tied up with difficulties over the stadium move, and further suggesting that all in not well behind the scenes.

With regard to the stadium switch, initially I was against the move to Kirkby, but once the decision had been made I have tried to be positive and encourage everyone concerned to work together to bring the project to a successful conclusion.

Now it seems at best in some doubt, not just in terms of whether the scheme gets the go-ahead but also in terms of whether the financial backers and the borough of Knowsley will still be interested if and when the government verdict is favourable.

During the period when the move to Kirkby appeared cut and dried, Liverpool City Council belatedly made an attempt to hijack the project.

Now they have a real opportunity to back up that rhetoric with some firm action.

Surely now the time is right for them to begin trying to help the club remain within the city, which at the time was what they suggested could be possible.

Compounding these uncertain times for Everton is the lack of activity on the playing front, even though Moyes has acknowledged the need to sign five or six new players. But just days before the season gets under way, none of his targets have as yet been landed.

If the manager can get his best 11 players on the pitch for every game of the season, Everton will do just fine and have a good season. And if he can get Mikel Arteta, James Vaughan and Tim Cahill fit and playing regularly it would be equivalent to having three top signings.

That's a big if, however, because we have learned over the past two or three years that the extra demands of European football on top of the intense competition to stay near the top end of the Premier League is bound to take its toll on any squad.

Moyes might well bring in some new faces before the August 31 deadline, but my worry is that a fantastic opportunity to take the Premier League by storm in the opening weeks of the campaign could be lost.

Games against a troubled Blackburn Rovers, the three promoted teams - Hull City, West Brom and Stoke City - and Portsmouth at home could conceivably see Everton topping the table as they go into the first Merseyside derby, which precedes a very difficult and packed fixture list in October.

But if there are no new faces this month and with the continued absence of Cahill and Vaughan, all three newcomers might well fancy their chances on their own grounds against the Blues.

One thing is for sure, Moyes will need all the resolve and management qualities he has displayed over the past four or five years to steer the club through what could be a very tricky few months.