‘RAFA TALKS ITALIAN’

EVERTON’S new stadium will have a 52,000 capacity with the potential to rise to 62,000.

And two of the stands at the new BradleyMoore Dock home will be constructed with the ability to convert them into safe standing.

Goodison Park is limited to 39,000 and Everton feel 52,000 is the optimum capacity to satisfy demand for season ticket-holders and ensure a full stadium.

Colin Chong, stadium development director, said: “It is important to stress that this is our proposed capacity. It’s FULHAM manager Claudio Ranieri says that Newcastle’s Spanish boss Rafa Benitez is “more Italian than me”.

And he thinks his team’s visit to St James Park tomorrow could be a tight, tactical Serie A-style battle. That might suit Ranieri, whose important to emphasise that the final capacity and design will be subject to further engagement and consultation.

“We believe our approach is the right one as it is commercially and financially sustainable and will mean that, in the long term, we will be able to increase the capacity should there be a demand and requirement to do so.

“Extensive work has gone into assessing the optimum capacity at the point of opening to create the best possible atmosphere for fans and, in turn, supporting the players on the pitch.”

The stadium will be future proofed so two stands could be converted to safe standing if regulations are changed.

The club hope to submit detailed plans in the second half of next year and move into the stadium for the start of the 2022-23 season.

Stadium architect Dan Meis said: “We know from all of the conversations we’ve had with fans that they want a stadium that is atmospheric, feels like a fortress and supports the players on the pitch.

“They also want the club to be ambitious for the future.

“We believe this proposed approach to design and capacity meets those aspirations.” group. The team is intense, strong, tight. “Rafa is more Italian than me, he is very attentive to the tactical movement of players.

“It will be tough. Newcastle are very physical and the crowd push behind them.”

Christmas list includes a first clean sheet of the season for his bottomof-the-table team.“He is a great manager,” said Ranieri (right) of Benitez. “He is very intelligent and tactically attentive and has created a good

THINKING BIGGER Goodison Park is expanding and the Everton bosses are looking to the future