FEARS were growing last night that the building of Liverpool FC’s new football stadium will be put on hold for 12 months because of the credit crunch.
Work on the proposed £300million project on Stanley Park — just 300 yards from the club’s Anfield home — was due to begin early next month. It was set to open in 2011.
But the financial climate has hit the club — captained by England’s Steven Gerrard — and its American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
The new venue — a 60,000 all-seater stadium with plans to increase it to 73,000 — got the green light when full planning permission was granted in June.
Initial preparatory work got under way. But fans at their first home game of the season last week were surprised to see no obvious signs the serious building was about to begin.
A section of Stanley Park — used as a car park for fans — has been cordoned off yet remains untouched.
The cost of initial stages of construction is £60million, which was included in the package when the Americans bought the club for £350million 18 months ago.
If they had to borrow again, the credit situation means banks will almost certainly expect them to put up at least a third deposit of the construction costs.
Both Yanks — especially Hicks — have also endured a rough time from fans, since they admitted approaching Jurgen Klinsmann to replace Rafa Benitez as manager last season.
Reds chief executive Rick Parry said: “I have heard whispers but you will need to ask the owners.”
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