Everton owner Farhad Moshiri's claims that around £760m is now needed to make the club's new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock a reality have been strongly criticised by the club's supporters.
Moshiri dropped the bombshell in an pre-recorded interview on talkSPORT interview where he was questioned on the current state of the club and its plans going forward.
The Iranian-British businessman, who has been Everton owner since 2016, stated that the Everton Stadium development was a "£760m" project. This figure that is some £260m more than the £505m figure for construction that has long been suggested by club officials.
A group of Everton fans are planning a sit-in protest after their Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday, and angry comments made by ECHO readers show just how strongly Everton fans feel about this latest development with the new stadium following recent gripes about the stewardship of the club.
READ MORE: Do you agree Everton fans should stage Goodison sit-in protest?
"Suddenly the value of the build (and therefore value of the stadium) has rocketed to well over £700M," one poster named BlueLister said. "Moshiri making that point rather than focusing on transfer budget he's making available, current FFP restrictions and above [all] why he hasn't chosen to speak with the fans directly, speaks volumes."
Another contributor named Blueyonder74 posted: "Typical of the board to be talking glibly about £700m, when all the manager needs, is a fraction of that amount. Moshiri and his cohorts can certainly talk the talk, but it's well past the time to walk the walk." One fan called Fibonacci said: "This is over. He now needs to find another £650m. Paying that back over 20 years is about £40m a year. The club cannot possibly generate that extra revenue. We are finished, the guy has actually killed us stone dead."
Another Albertarms added: "Why are there hundreds of millions of pounds of Moshiri‘s money placed on the books as capital, when they are in fact loans and re-payable on demand?" Rogermthomas10 claimed the situation could allow a change of ownership model at the club: "Season ticket sales at current levels without allowing for price increases at £34 million a year covers the increase cost (50% increase even though construction price fixed) funding could be met by all ticket holders putting fans in partial control of the club as in Germany! Moshiri just has to go."
What is your take on Everton's stadium development and Moshiri? Let us know in the comments section below
