Football: Everton set to stay at Goodison Park

EVERTON SEEM certain to abandon plans to move from Goodison Park to a new ground, as well a proposal to appoint a new chief executive.

The new men in charge of the boardroom at the Merseyside club, the chairman, Sir Philip Carter, and his deputy, Bill Kenwright, have decided to put a low priority on both these controversial issues. Their aim is to make a bid for the shares, estimated at being worth pounds 50m, owned by the former chairman Peter Johnson, and to get Everton back on an even keel before considering two of Johnson's most far-reaching plans.

Johnson faced considerable opposition from fans' organisations over his scheme to leave Goodison. Even his attempts to organise a poll of supporters, which he maintained gave him a mandate to go ahead with the scheme, was furiously opposed as unreliable.

The plans, too, for the appointment of a chief executive have been on hold for some time. Everton advertised the post many months ago, and held a couple of interviews.