Everton's £36m Kirkby stadium crisis

Now owner Bill Kenwright and the rest of the board must decide if they are willing to take a gamble on staying with Tesco.

They must take into consideration the consequences of losing the public inquiry and finding themselves back at square one, two years behind schedule and nowhere to build a new ground.

For the duration of the inquiry the club would be unable to spend significantly on Goodison Park because it would be a waste of money.

They could not enter into negotiations with other parties over alternative sites, because Kirkby would still be their committed site.

At the same time the club will not be able to put any more into the scheme than the £78m already pledged, meaning that Tesco must be prepared to make up the difference if they want Everton to stay on board.

Privately the club is furious at the role played by Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley in opposing the move to Kirkby, and lobbying for the club to choose a site in Liverpool.

If the emergency board meeting does decide to drop the Kirkby plan the club will be demanding more plausible Liverpool alternatives from the council.

All the sites offered so far within the city boundaries have been ruled out as unviable by the club.

If Kirkby goes by the wayside the Everton board will be demanding that Cllr Bradley delivers something realistic on his promise.

Today Cllr Bradley said he remained keen to talk to Bill Kenwright about the club's future.

As senior figures were trying to establish why the scheme was called in frantic telephone calls were being made between the major partners in the proposed development

A Knowsley council spokesman said: "The development is still very much on the table and we will soon be finding out details like when the public enquiry will start.

"These are details we don't have at the moment. There is a window of opportunity for this scheme. But Tesco and Everton FC still want Destination Kirkby to happen."

The ECHO understands the passionate campaign against the move was a key factor in the government's decision to call in the plan.

Groups determined to keep the club in the city caused such a fuss communities secretary Hazel Blears and planning minister Baroness Andrews felt that they could not let the project be rubber-stamped.

Knowsley council leader Ron Round, said: "We are extremely disappointed as a public inquiry will delay the development. Indeed this delay, in the current economic climate, places the entire project in jeopardy.

"From all of the consultation we have carried out we believe that the majority of local residents are in favour of transforming Kirkby."

Tesco were remaining very tight-lipped today about the government decision.

Spokesman Michael Kissman said: "We need to see the official letter from the government to get official confirmation."

Ian Morris, of the Kirkby Residents Action Group, told the ECHO: "We are happy that the government has made the right decision and called this in. Finally it gives the residents the opportunity to have their say. So far we have not been heard because the so-called consultation did not ask us anything. We will tell whoever heads the inquiry that the stadium is not right for this area.

"A fifty thousand-seat stadium on green space and the influx of football supporters would bring us traffic chaos.

"Why should we suffer every time there's a football match? The council is talking as though this stadium is the only option for regeneration."

Colin Fitzpatrick, secretary of fan group KEIOC (Keep Everton In Our City) said: "It's surprising to us that the club is reacting with shock.

"For 18 months we have been telling them that the project is undeliverable because the stadium is interdependent with all the retail attached to it.

"In that time we could have moved forward - but all their eggs have been in one basket.

"They have not only underestimated the feelings of the fans, they have underestimated the feelings of the shareholders, who are going to have serious questions to ask."

Under the headline "Battle Won" on the campaign group's forum one fan wrote: "Let's make peace between a fan base which has been severely damaged and win the war for all Evertonians.

"To every single person who knew the real score, who fought to avoid this potential irrevocable disaster, I'd like to personally give a huge thank-you for helping to provide us with the biggest sense of relief and elation associated with EFC for many, many years."

The fans' views

Joseph Morris, 20, Netherton.

"The spot we are in is fine. Everyone knows it's a good location so why move?

"There are problems. But it's a classic ground and we shouldn't throw it away."

Ray Pollard, 19, Walton.

"It's the history of Goodison that's important - why get rid of that heritage?

"Most clubs with that kind of history would be protecting it. I think there'll be plenty of fans who are very relieved at the news."

Tony Burns, 25, Everton.

"I've lived here all my life and the ground should stay - this is about more than football.

"There are social problems here as it is. What would it be like if the stadium went?."

Ryan Baker, 19, Walton.

"They have to reinvest in the stadium we've got.

"There are businesses round here that rely on it and the area would definitely go downhill without them. Lots of people here would lose their jobs."

Peter Titchen, 60, Everton.

"I've been a Blue all my life and the ground belongs in Everton - I'm glad they've called it in.

"It should stay where it is.

"At least Liverpool have planned to stay roughly where they are, we have to do the same."

Mark Ashcroft, 20, Everton.

"I'm not happy with any plans to move to Kirkby - we need to be in the city.

"They keep saying that the move would be better for us but I haven't seen one thing that's convinced me of that."