Liverpool scale back stadium plans

Plans scaled back as the global credit crunch claims another victim.

Liverpool have announced that the grand plans that were unveiled soon after George Gillett and Tom Hicks took over are to be scaled back.

Rick Parry, Liverpools chief executive is reported as saying that the new plans will still be a massive improvement on the original design and will still cater for upto 70,000 fans, however they will not be as grand as the futuristic designs the Americans originally requested.

It is thought the global credit crunch and the consequent rapid rise in the cost of debt has forced George Gillett and Tom Hicks into a rethink into how the project is financed.

This will disappoint many Liverpool fans and ordinary fan's limited understanding of global economics, will probably make them even more suspicious of their long term plans. There is already a perception on Merseyside that they are more talk than substance and this will do nothing to dispel that notion.

Anfield troubles bubble up again?

More strange troubling rumblings coming out of Anfield, with reports that the global credit crunch has forced Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to rethink their grand designs for the new Anfield stadium.

It has swiftly been denied by Liverpool of course but it will only add to fans suspicions that the Yanks have been all talk and no substance. Claims of spending massively in the transfer market have not been met in the fans eyes, with Liverpool only spending a net 14 million in the summer. Then following that has been the much publicised spat with Rafael Benitez with reports of his position being under threat. And now this!

There's obviously something going on with the stadium. The cost of borrowing has shifted dramatically in the last few months so its' bound to have some effect on the project and the design may indeed have to be scaled back. The Americans can hardly be blamed for that and its not unreasonable as the club has to be a viable business.

The spat with Rafa is the more worrying though. It seems to me Hicks and Gillett have doubts over Rafa being the world class manager capable or delivering the success they want. The Capello link was especially worrying. It appears Rafa has added to their doubts with his public criticism and my gut feel is that his long term position must be in some doubt.