Everton Reeling As Public Inquiry Leaves Stadium Move in Tatters

Everton's uncertain future was plunged into turmoil last night when the government called in plans for a 50,000-seat stadium in Kirkby. The decision to open the proposed ?400m development to public inquiry, and the rising costs associated with a 12-month delay to the scheme, is likely to kill the controversial move outside the city of Liverpool boundaries.

Club officials refused to cancel a project that has divided Evertonians over the past 12 months and will ask Tesco, the major partner in the project, to meet the increased costs. Everton have stretched their resources to the limit to pledge ?78m towards the cost of the stadium so without that guarantee the club's search for a new ground is expected to continue.

The announcement by the department for communities and local government represents a major setback for the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, who may now have presided over two failed stadium projects, after the collapse of the Kings Dock move five years ago. He said this week that the club needed new investment to close the gap on the top four in the Premier League, as he reiterated his willingness to sell to the right bidder yet again, and Everton had hoped a new stadium would help attract that finance.

Now, with Keith Wyness having resigned as chief executive amid concerns over Sir Philip Green's unofficial influence over Everton's finances and the club struggling to make their first signing of the summer, the future is clouded in uncertainty. The board has been roundly criticized for not preparing a plan B in the likely event of Kirkby being called in and, despite the implications for Everton's finances many supporters were relieved at last night's decision. A club spokesman said: "This decision does not spell the end of the Destination Kirkby project."

The manager David Moyes's frustrations in the transfer market have continued after St phane M'Bia said he would remain at Rennes next season and the Sporting Lisbon president, Filipe Soares Franco, said the midfielder Joao Moutinho was unlikely to move to Goodison Park.

Kevin Keegan denied that Alan Smith's absence from Newcastle United's 2-2 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven last night was the preface to the forward moving to Everton. Asked if such rumors were true, Newcastle's manager said: "I don't think so. Alan's got a sore ankle." Michael Owen, absent after mumps and a calf strain, will not feature against Valencia on Saturday but Keegan hopes he will be fit to face Manchester United in the season opener.

The former Newcastle and England manager Sir Bobby Robson says he is losing his battle with cancer which has now spread to his lungs. "I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go and I have enjoyed every minute," Sir Bobby, 75, told The Sun.