Liverpool clear obstacle en route to new stadium

Liverpool hope to move into a new stadium to be built near their famous Anfield home for the start of the 2005-06 season, their chief executive Rick Parry said yesterday.

Parry's comments came after 59 per cent of local residents backed redevelopment plans that include the building of a new 55,000-seater stadium in neighbouring Stanley Park. Anfield has been Liverpool's home since 1892, but its capacity of 45,362 is over 20,000 less than that of Manchester United.

"It's an exciting day," Parry said. "We're delighted with the outcome. The next step is to submit the planning application which will go to the city [council] in the new year. Our hope is still to be in a new stadium in time for the start of the 2005-06 season."

Leicester City have announced they will release a statement concerning the club's future on Monday. The Foxes are reportedly £30m in debt and close to administration.

Simon Jordan, the Crystal Palace chairman, yesterday sacked the reserve team coach Dave Swindlehurst. Jordan had warned of budget cuts following the collapse of ITV Digital.

MUTV, Manchester United's TV channel, have secured rights to screen the whole of the club's Worthington Cup tie against Leicester at Old Trafford. The entire match will be shown around 30 minutes after the full-time whistle. Sky Sports hold the rights to the Worthington Cup and own a third of MUTV.

Coventry have asked their players to take a 12 per cent pay cut to help ease financial problems at Highfield Road. The First Division club join a growing number of clubs including Huddersfield, Leicester, Barnsley and Watford, who must reduce wage bills in order to balance the books. The Coventry chairman Mike McGinnity said: "We do not like it, but we feel we have no choice but to ask the professionals to help the club by accepting this wage deferral."

Leeds United and Hapoel Tel Aviv are set to play the return leg of their Uefa Cup second-round tie in Florence on 14 November. The clubs are awaiting confirmation from the Italian Football Federation.

The Stoke City defender Kris Commons has been ruled out for the rest of the season as he must undergo a knee operation.