Werner: Sharing a 'dead issue'

Published Oct. 1, 2011 9:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Reds have long been considering stadium plans and the club's unpopular former owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, had pledged to build a replacement for Anfield in Stanley Park. Planning permissions were approved, but redesigns and the global recession delayed the building process and the much-criticised Hicks and Gillett were bought out by John W Henry's Fenway Sports Group last autumn. Henry and business partner Werner have taken their time over the important decision of whether to go ahead with a new stadium or to redevelop and expand Anfield in order to increase matchday revenue. A ground-share with Everton has also been considered but, ahead of Saturday lunchtime's Merseyside derby, Werner said in the Daily Telegraph: "We knew it would be complicated when we took over the club but we are still optimistic of finding the right solution." "Everyone knows the two options we are examining - staying at Anfield or a new build on the park - and although we have been pressured for a timetable we have not responded to that pressure because we do not want our fans to be disappointed. "We have been told countless times by our supporters that they have no desire for us to share a stadium and we have listened to that. Our supporters are not for it, therefore it is a dead issue. "I have said before you can never say it will never be raised again but although there are obstacles on Anfield redevelopment and on the issue of naming rights, I believe they are surmountable. "People can say whatever they want about how long a decision takes, but as far as we are concerned the situation is exactly as we knew it would be when we purchased the club. "It is our intention to not only enhance the playing environment around Liverpool Football Club but also the neighbourhood. "We appreciate the surrounding area is not Mayfair. We want to be the catalyst for employment and to look after those in the vicinity, assisting the local economy."