The Goodison Park outfit are waiting to discover whether the joint plans with Tesco for the 55,000-seater stadium will be "called in" by the Government for further review.

Everton believe if that happens, the planning process could be extended by more than a year and kill off the scheme.

Such a situation would severely damage Everton's dreams of moving the club forward to be able to compete with the big four of English football.

A Government spokesman said: "The decision on the plans is imminent, it should be some time this week. The plans are with the minister now."

Everton expect that decision to arrive before the Government goes into summer recess this week.

The planning decision comes as Everton confirmed they had received a petition from shareholders opposed to the scheme to hold an extraordinary general meeting.

Under the club's articles of association, a mandate from 20% of shareholders is required for an EGM to be called.

Mark Rowan, Everton's head of media and communications, said: "The club can confirm that we did receive a petition from shareholders.

"There will now be a process of authentication and validation of the names on petition against the share register.

"Once we ascertain the accuracy of the names then we have 21 days from receipt to announce a date for an EGM."

There has been growing opposition to the Kirkby plans from a section of fans who do not want to see the club move outside the city boundaries. Knowsley Council have approved the scheme and are also now waiting for Government approval.

If the plans are "called in" there will be massive problems for the £400million joint scheme with Tesco, with the financial basis for the plans hugely altered. And that could end the whole project in the current financial climate.

Everton would then be forced to reconsider schemes to extend Goodison, previously dismissed as unworkable.

Attempts to find another site inside the city boundaries have also been abandoned by the club. Sharing Liverpool's proposed new stadium in Stanley Park has also failed to win the approval of both sets of fans as well as the two clubs.

Shareholders spokesman Mark Grayson insists they will want a debate on the issue regardless of whether the plans are "called in" or not.

He said: "Our primary concern is that we feel that the club promised a world-class and effectively free stadium with the best transport links in the UK.

"We now know through the Tesco-led planning application that the stadium will only be of 'mid-level quality' that could add a further £78million to the club's existing debt. It is our intention to have a debate regardless of whether it gets called in or not."