Mayor Joe Anderson’s full interview on Radio City Talk

The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has come under some severe criticism after it was announced during the Everton Annual General Meeting yesterday that the City Council will work together with the club as the Toffees look to make the move to Bramley Moore Dock from Goodison Park.

The main bone of contention against Anderson, who is a self-professed diehard Everton fan, has been around the statement that the city will help provide two-thirds of the funding required for the new facility which is expected to cost nearly £500m, all-told.

Since yesterday evening, Anderson has clarified that the amount will be loaned to the club, with the principle being repaid over 25 years while making more in interest for the council than it currently is sitting in the coffers.

Once the final approval is done as expected in the new few weeks, Everton can then proceed with their planning application which will kick off the project in full earnest, with a completion date ahead of the August 2022 move date from Goodison.

The Mayor was interviewed earlier this morning on Radio City Talk by Mick Coyle, where he went into details about the funding and planning for the new stadium, emphasizing that there would be no additional cost to the taxpayer.

That should go a long way towards assuaging angry Reds and non-football fans alike who have been burning up the airwaves and social media channels, outraged by how Anderson appears to be blatantly helping Everton.