Reds awaiting grant decision

Liverpool were granted planning permission to build the stadium last July and were given permission by the government in August. However, the stadium has suffered numerous delays after the club agreed to look at the possibility of a groundshare with Everton.

With the groundshare idea finally falling through, Liverpool are now hoping to build the stadium for the start of the 2007/8 season, despite costs rising from the originally estimated £80m to £130m.

Liverpool are hoping for a £20m grant from the North West Development Agency (NWDA) but have yet to hear back from the NWDA, causing fears that the stadium will not be ready in time for the start of the 2007/8 season.

Chief executive Rick Parry said: "We fervently hope that our application is considered soon because it is vital to the success of the stadium development."