Friday, May 13, 2011

Ayre: Stadium Plans Will Not Hinge On Champions League Qualification

Liverpool's plans to build a new stadium or renovate Anfield will not be affected by a failure to qualify for the Champions League, the club's managing director has confirmed.

Ian Ayre insists that sound financial planning, not projections of European revenues, are paramount in deciding whether the club will shift grounds.

The Reds are currently weighing up whether to build a new stadium at Stanley Park or refurbish Anfield, and Ayre admits it is important that the club only reveal details over their plans when they are set in stone.

"One of the things that people have been really critical of the club about over the past few years was making rash statements and then not living up to them," he said.

"The dictation on the stadium will be about finding the right financial model.

"We are very fortunate that Champions League or no Champions League, we fill our stadium - that's what will dictate our ability to build a new stadium or refurbish Anfield.

"It's not dependent upon [the Champions League]. We'd all like to see it but that's not part of the decision-making on the stadium."

No comments: