Gray and Martinez debate Everton stadium switch
It seems like Everton have been looking to build a new stadium for centuries. It’s not been quite that long, of course, but it’s certainly been a while.
They submitted plans for a new ground in December, with the hope that a 52,000 capacity stadium will open on the Bramley-Moore Dock site by 2023.
Hopefully that all comes off without a hitch, although it would surely be a wrench for the club to leave Goodison Park.
The Toffees’ association with that famous footballing ground is a long and proud one, and it will be a sad day when they eventually move on.
That’s something that has pitted some Everton supporters against any potential stadium move.
The issue was debated by former Toffees striker Andy Gray and ex manager Roberto Martinez on Sunday.
“If you want Everton to progress and if you want Everton to compete with the other clubs they are moving on… even just for the finances. The revenue you can make with a new stadium allows you to compete with the others,” Martinez told beIN SPORTS.
Gray replied: “If it was possible for Everton to do what Liverpool have done: stay at Anfield and develop the ground, if they could do that at Goodison, yes, I would stay.”
Who’s in the right, here?
Both men make good points. Gray is talking about something that is hypothetical and that has seemingly been ruled out by the Everton board.
Obviously if the club could do something similar to what Liverpool have done at Anfield then that would be ideal.
However, the fact that the Toffees are seemingly moving ahead with the new stadium indicates that that isn’t a possibility.
Martinez is right that the finances earned from a new stadium can be handsome, but has that really helped Arsenal and West Ham?
In other Everton news, Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has praised one star Toffee v Arsenal.