TOFFEES FANS TO HAVE THEIR SAY

Everton are looking to leave Goodison.

Everton's first match of the summer at Goodison Park on Saturday will be overshadowed by the fall-out following Government plans to scrutinise the club's plans for a new stadium in nearby Kirkby.

And there will be plenty of attention on the reception which owner and chairman Bill Kenwright is given from Everton fans during the friendly with PSV Eindhoven.

More protests are expected from fans opposed to the move to a new stadium outside Liverpool's city boundaries.

The club have been rocked by what lead to a two-year delay in their plans for a new stadium in a £400million scheme with Tesco.

No decision has been made over whether Everton will be prepared to shoulder the escalating extra costs which a delay could cause.

Kenwright plans to meet Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley next week and will also chair an emergency board meeting.

The club have been in talks with their lawyers, and Tesco, the city council and Knowsley Council following the Government's decision to call in the plans for a public inquiry.

Knowsley are still behind the scheme, but Everton have yet to state publicly their own view and will wait for a cost-assessment from lawyers.

Everton fan Bradley has campaigned to keep the club in Liverpool, but the club's board have rejected three proposed sites as unacceptable, and will now challenge the city council leader to come up with a new proposal.

But Everton are facing a situation where the delay could cost them millions.

Kirkby residents opposed to the scheme, plus Everton fans who have fought a long battle to keep the club inside the city, also plan meetings.

And Kenwright can also expect a searching examination at an emergency general meeting, called by angry shareholders, which has now been set for September 3.

That meeting was requested before the 'call-in' decision, and now Kenwright will be questioned on what he plans to do next to either find the club a new home, or develop Goodison.

Amid the politics, manager David Moyes is trying to make new signings ahead of Everton's Barclays Premier League opener against Blackburn on August 16.

He is being strongly linked with Newcastle's Alan Smith, and Rennes defender Stephane M'bia, the Cameroon star having claimed that Everton have lodged a bid worth £7million.

M'bia said: "At the end of last season I was promised me that if there was a good offer, I could leave.

"This offer exists. It comes from Everton, who want to buy me for more than eight million euros.

"I want to leave Rennes. Everton are offering me 1.5million euros (£1.1million) a year - Rennes could never offer me that much.

"Everton are a very established club in the Premier League, managed by David Moyes, a coach who puts trust in youngsters.

"I have spoken to him on the phone. He wanted to invite me to visit the club. I hadn't the time to do it."