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Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale has revealed the club will soon start interviewing candidates for the new role of stadium development director.

The Blues have created the position to act as a “day-to-day” project manager on the club's proposed new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Barrett-Baxendale announced that Everton were bolstering their stadium staff on Wednesday as part of a major restructure of the club's leadership team.

Everton have made two new appointments, made six promotions and re-hired a finance expert from Liverpool - as well as opened the search for a stadium guru.

The changes came after last month's reshuffle at boardroom level and Barrett-Baxendale has been keen to promote “accountability” so supporters know who is responsible for which area of the club.

Interviews for the new stadium figure will be conducted by Everton's CEO and deputy chairman Keith Harris who has assumed overall responsibility for the new ground in the wake of Robert Elstone's departure for Super League.

“Coming new into the role one of the first things we had to do as a board was make an assessment in respect of where we are on stadium,” Barrett-Baxendale told the ECHO, in her first major interview since becoming chief executive.

“Robert had led the stadium in the past, he was the main anchor for the stadium project so Keith had that responsibility passed over to him.

“He will be the Board sponsor for the stadium and I will work alongside Keith with what will be a really strong team here at the club.

“The transition to a new stadium and also the legacy at Goodison Park is a huge, enormous project we are working on and what we do require now is somebody who will manage the stadium project on a day-to-day basis.

“Keith and I are working through that process and we are close to commencing with the interviews for those positions.”

Everton's CEO added: “They are people you would expect to see, people with construction experience, people with experience in building new stadia and this person will be the person who works day-to-day between the local authority, the construction company, our advisors, Everton Football Club, and also the executives I have within my portfolio who have managed Goodison Park.

“Alan Bowen has managed Goodison Park for almost 40 years and it is crucial that the project manager has a real understanding of the Everton essence so that when we relocate to Bramley-Moore Dock we are making sure we preserve as much of what it means to be at Goodison Park and Everton and take those into our new stadium.

“So it is crucial that the corporate knowledge we have in our internal team, in respect of stadium, is available to the project director.

“So it will be somebody who supports Keith and myself with the regular development and reporting around the new stadium progress.”

Everton have been working on a finance agreement with Liverpool City Council which would see the Blues loan around £280m of the £500m needed for construction at Bramley-Moore Dock but Mayor Joe Anderson revealed the club are also looking at private financing.

Barrett-Baxendale confirmed: “I thank Joe for his continued support in respect in working with the club on a financial solution.

“That work continues and we will continue to work with Joe and we will continue to explore other options too.”

(Image: Colin Lane)

Barrett-Baxendale was officially confirmed as Elstone's replacement as chief exec in May and has already overseen significant change.

This week's announcement of a new leadership team was in response to the shifting nature of football clubs – and the importance of accountability.

“That's critical,” Barrett-Baxendale said.

“Football clubs have changed, they are huge organisations now, they are very complex, they operate 24/7 and what we needed to do was finesse and refine roles and responsibilities and introduce some new roles.

“Over the last year I had introduced a Risk and Governance department, I think that is crucial about being the best business – one of our strategic pledges is about being the best business - so that means having audit, in-house legal, governance and strategy.

“We have a Head of Strategy who is leading that and making sure we have the best talent off the pitch to run our football club.

“And so in terms of accountability, it's so fans are clear on who does what and why they've been selected to the team.

“The pace of this organisation is phenomenal and we need to make sure we have the right people in the correct roles and driving our club forward.

“So I did feel we had to have a period of consolidation, consideration and then we moved forward with a strong leadership team that will take our football club forward for the long-term and looking to our new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.

“I felt that was necessary and when I shared my thoughts with the leadership team they were in agreement.

“This isn't just a change in title for some people, there are extended responsibilities and people providing a higher level of support to myself and the board and these are people, I believe, will add value to Everton Football Club.”