"Global market conditions may have delayed the project, but the club remains committed to building a new world class LFC stadium on the site in Stanley Park. Those plans have not changed."

The People's Reporter Steve Bates had reported that "Liverpool owner Tom Hicks has hired a firm of architects to draw up plans to expand Anfield - sparking fears he is close to abandoning the project to build a new high-tech stadium.

I can reveal Hicks made the decision to investigate expanding Anfield just days ago, leaving plans to pursue a new stadium in nearby Stanley Park on the brink of collapse.

Hicks has been hit hard by the current global economic market and worsening problems in America - and with costs for the new structure now standing at an estimated £550million on completion, Liverpool's co-owner has been forced to look at the project again.

Initial costs have spiralled out of control since the go ahead was first given for the 60,000-seater stadium at a building cost of £350m - and joint owners Hicks and George Gillett cannot finance an extra £200m with a credit crunch in full swing.

Sources close to the stadium venture told People Sport last night that renovating and partially rebuilding the current ground is now a much likelier proposition - especially with the City Council losing patience over the changing situation regarding the Stanley Park project.

Not only would it be substantially cheaper than building a brand new arena it would also pacify fans who believe the soul of Anfield would be lost if the Kop was demolished.

However, the brief of the architects brought in by Hicks to look at expanding the capacity of the existing Anfield will be hampered by the close proximity of terraced housing and roads on all sides of the ground.

But Hicks has been told some extra seating could be achieved - increasing the capacity from the present 45,362 to just over 50,000.

That is way below the 60,000 first envisaged at the new stadium and a blow to boss Rafa Benitez, who has viewed a bigger ground as a way of generating more cash to spend in the transfer market to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, who have big stadiums.

With the current economic conditions, even 5,000 more seats would give Liverpool a valuable extra revenue stream and be seen as a sensible compromise.

And it would satisfy punters who identify strongly with the historic significance of Anfield and have railed against a new ground - with the inherent danger that the atmosphere prevalent on European nights would be lost for ever."

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