The stadiums of football clubs Liverpool and Everton need to be replaced ahead of a bid for the 2018 World Cup, Liverpool council’s regeneration director said this afternoon.

Speaking in Liverpool at the spring conference of the Association of Chief Estates Surveyors, Liverpool City Council executive director of regeneration John Kelly said both Anfield and Goodison Park both needed replacing ahead of the UK’s bids to host the football World Cup in 2018 and 2022.

He said a World Cup in the UK could contribute significantly to Liverpool’s regeneration but that its football grounds were inadequate for a major tournament.

Kelly also said investors from the southeast of England still needed convincing of Liverpool’s potential, despite its European City of Culture status last year.

He said: “People around the world understand Liverpool is a world-class city, but the southeast investment market needs to actually be brought here to show them it is worth investing in.”

• Liverpool and Knowsley to share regeneration chief
• Tesco loses appeal over £150m Liverpool scheme
• ACES Conference: Cuts could mean “spaghetti junction” policies
• ACES conference: Councils must look at selling property
• Leahy named for Liverpool City Region LEP board