The project has been a fiasco from the beginning, when Liverpool dubiously beat a challenge from Newcastle/Gateshead. Since that announcement in 2003, services for Liverpool artists have been drastically cut back, and there has been a distinct lack of concrete plans for events that are now less than eighteen months away. Rents have gone up across the city, and swanky businesses have flocked to the city centre, but there has been next to nothing that will benefit local people.

Robyn Archer's reign as artistic director has stirred anger amongst many Liverpool artists. Spending much of her time in her native Australia, she only began working here full time since earlier this year. Her salary is undisclosed, but is likely to be six figures. She has claimed that personal reasons are behind her departure, but she's made her money and now she's off. A taste of things to come in 2009...