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Everton issue crafty response to reports of yet more problems on stadium

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Sat 1 April 2023 13:40, UK

Everton have rejected suggestions that the new stadium development is running months behind schedule ahead of the latest drone video update on Sunday.

Analysis from The Guardian on Friday (31 March) reported that construction experts believe the project of the dock-side structure was three months behind, potentially increasing the costs by millions when the club are already hundreds of millions in the red over the past four years.

The Toffees' new home is expected to be ready for the 2024/25 season but the report claims that the regular drone video updates released online show work is many weeks behind where it should be, although the club dispute that and say it is on schedule.

They doubled down on the official Everton Stadium Twitter account, which posted on Friday (31 March) to say with a winking emoji: "This week's scheduled stadium drone update will be with you on Sunday - on schedule… just like the project itself."

What to believe

Most of us aren't construction experts so progress looks like progress for now, and there is no disputing the fact that the development is starting to look like a stadium.

The release of the most recent accounts, which sparked a Premier League charge for a supposed breach of profit and sustainability rules, have laid bare the perilous financial state of the club.

The Toffees are heavily reliant on embattled majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, while there are concerns about the club's survival if they are relegated.

The prospect of entering the new ground as a Championship side was bad enough for the club's fanbase, but there are now suggestions that if they go down there is no guarantee they get into the brand new surroundings at all.

But the club are clearly insisting there is nothing amiss on the timescale for the stadium, so one side has to be wrong.

In light of how Everton seem to always have another saga around the corner with the current hierarchy in charge, fans might be taking their assurances with a pinch of salt.

Yet more losses are the last thing that is needed when the league has taken issue with the ones that have already occurred, so viewers will have to decide for themselves when the Sunday (2 April) drone footage is released whether it looks like the latest catastrophe being stored up for down the road.

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