Source: Daily_Mail
CHARLES SALE: 2018 World Cup might bypass Liverpool
Liverpool, boasting two Premier League clubs and arguably the most passionate football location in the country, is in danger of not being chosen as a host city for the 2018 World Cup bid.[LNB] An artist's impression of Liverpool's proposed new stadium in Stanley Park - but it may not see World Cup football in 2018 even if England's bid is successful[LNB]The Merseyside tender, to be submitted on November 26, will put forward Anfield plus the two new stadiums being planned for Liverpool in Stanley Park and Everton in Kirkby.[LNB] More from Charles Sale... CHARLES SALE: Jet-set David Beckham divides 2018 World Cup bid team10/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Lines drawn over TV rights report08/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Crocked Dean Ashton to seek FA's millions06/11/09 Charles Sale: England show up clubs on poppies05/11/09 Then there were two: Bolton join poppy parade - unlike United and Liverpool05/11/09 Poppy power! Now only three Premier clubs are refusing to back campaign04/11/09 Charles Sale: Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is charged (only four years on)04/11/09 Charles Sale: Poppies growing on Premier League clubs03/11/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE But Anfield is now a comparatively ancient venue and, given the club's continuing financial turmoil, who would trust Liverpool's discreditedowners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to deliver a new stadium on time when it is already well over a year behind schedule?[LNB]Meanwhile, Everton's Kirkby site is still waiting for the decision of a Government public inquiry following complaints about the project, which includes a giant Tesco store. The inquiry's verdict will be announced on November 27 bizarrely, the day after the bid deadline.[LNB]Adding to the farce, Liverpool City Council, who organised the city's 2018 bid, are one of the major opponents to Everton's Kirkby plan.[LNB]However, when the four-strong 2018 panel announce on December 16 which cities and stadiums will be included in their definitive bid book, it is highly likely that the London Olympic Stadium will be one of them - meaning it will remain an 80,000 or 60,000-capacity stadium for at least six years after the 2012 Games if Englandare to host the 2018 World Cup.[LNB] No names were mentioned but there is no doubt Mike Lee, the spinmeister behind successive winning campaigns for London 2012 and Rio 2016, had the beleaguered FA 2018 bid in mind when he spelt out four major requirements for bid success at the Sports Event Management Conference. These were getting the media on side, having relevant ambassadors, achieving political and bid team unity and gaining momentum from landmark moments - all elements the England team have failed on so far.[LNB] There is still lots of acrimony surrounding the controversial £4m summer transfer of Michael Turner from Hull City to Sunderland, which included his former clubs Brentford and Charlton sharing a 33 per cent sell-on clause.[LNB]The two lower-league clubs have got the Premier League to investigate the price paid for the £12m-rated defender, especially as they claim Paul McShane - who is valued at just £500,000, having been signed for £1.75m two years earlier - went in the opposite direction as part of the deal. [LNB]However, both Sunderland and Hull have told the Premier League that McShane was an entirely separate transaction.[LNB] It doesn't say much for Charlton Athletic that not one of their directors - and until recently they had 18 of them - bothered to attend their FA Cup first-round defeat at Northwich Victoria.[LNB] 2012 chief's go-slowThe irony wasn't lost on London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton that his opening speech to the Sports Event Management Conference was delayed because of transport chaos at nearby St Pancras station, from where the Olympic Javelin trains are set to ferry passengers to the Olympic Park in Stratford to watch the 2012 Games in just six minutes 30 seconds.[LNB]On the subject of timing, Deighton announced that tests had shown that badminton and rhythmic gymnastic competitors can be delivered in current weekday London conditions from Stratford's Olympic Village to their Wembley Arena venue in 42 minutes - well inside the maximum one hour permitted in IOC regulations.[LNB]Despite the concerns the two sports have about travelling to Wembley, London are not prepared to lay out £40m on a temporary venue to avoid spending a few extra minutes on the North Circular road.[LNB] The Commonwealth Games in Delhi next October are shaping up to be the most chaotic major sports event in living memory. The latest in a catalogue of serious problems to affect their preparation is the Indian Government's allegation that Games organisers have been money laundering.[LNB][LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Paul McShane, Mike Lee, George Gillett, Michael Turner, Tom HicksPlaces:Liverpool, London, United Kingdom, Olympic Park, Stanley ParkOrganisations:Liverpool City Council
