THE HERALD REPORTS
Acrimony surrounds Glasgow switch

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer December 01 2005

Glasgow Warriors hastily moved into their new home at Firhill yesterday amid bitter acrimony between their owners and their former landlords.
Players and officials expressed delight as the club took up residency at Partick Thistle FC's home ground, which has been substantially upgraded since rugby was last played there four seasons ago.
However Gordon McKie, the Scottish Rugby Union's chief executive, joined them to explain the reasons why Glasgow's contract to play across the city at Hughenden had been ripped up.
McKie's move came after Hillhead Sports Club (HSC), Hughenden's owners who are set to sell off part of their land as they redevelop the ground, made an angry statement which said they believed the SRU was in breach of a contract agreed earlier this year.
The statement issued by Ronald Meikle, HSC's chairman, read: "HSC has had continuing concerns about the SRU's fulfilment of the agreement which culminated on 18 November, 2005 in HSC intimating formally to SRU chief executive Gordon McKie that it held the SRU to be in breach of its obligations to HSC, that in the absence of an acceptable response from the SRU to the letter it regarded the agreement as having been vitiated and that its Hughenden ground would not be available to the SRU for Glasgow Warriors' use after 1 January, 2005."
Meikle's statement added that there were matters still to be resolved between the parties. HSC's board believe those details should remain confidential. But McKie had no such qualms, explaining that the relationship between the parties had become strained, while the working environment had become acrimonious for Glasgow Warriors employees dealing with the club.
"We have paid our rent in advance for this current season," he said. "They sent a very strong letter to me personally advising that, in the event of us being unable to agree a revised rental that satisfied their needs, they would have no other option other than to refuse permission to use the facilities. In other words they have terminated our contract by giving me 21 days to agree a new rental.
"They are also alleging that there were certain matters agreed during David Jordan's time as CEO of Glasgow where dilapidation expenditure was to have been reimbursed by the SRU. The detail of that was not clearly documented. Consequently we, without prejudice, reserve our position in respect of any contractual claim from Hillhead Sports Club. We will also cross claim against them in respect of monies they are due to us because we have paid our rental in advance."
Since George Blackie, the former Glasgow District chairman and SRU general committee member – like Jordan – is among HSC's leading figures, the relationship has seemed to benefit the club at least as much as Glasgow's professional team over the years.
They have had major support from Murrayfield in upgrading facilities as well as a steady stream of bar and hospitality revenue. Yet it became clear last month that all was not well when the Warriors ran into trouble with organisers of the Heineken Cup because of problems with their alcohol licence.
McKie said yesterday that HSC's objection to the Warriors' application for an extended licence had been among the problems. Since he has acquired something of a reputation for calling bluffs that may have been behind Tuesday's surprise announcement that the Warriors would be playing future matches at Firhill.
But McKie knows the move will present problems since it is unlikely to go down well with all supporters. However, the decision has been taken with the fans in mind since their facilities will be greatly improved.

Ground dispute could end up in the courts

Gordon McKie, the chief executive of the SRU, has revealed that the dispute between his organisation and the Hillhead/Jordanhill Sports Club, the owners of Hughenden, could end up in the courts, with both sides accusing the other of a breach of contract.
An article by Lewis Stuart in today's edition of The Times reports that, according to McKie, matters came to a head when the union sought a licence to sell alcohol directly to supporters so that they could have a drink and watch the game at the same time. The Hillhead club objected to the application and, as a result, nobody at Glasgow's Heineken Cup game against Leinster Lions in October was able to get a drink before, during or after the match.

After that, relationships between the two sides broke down, culminating in a letter from Hillhead last week giving the SRU 21 days' notice that if it did not renegotiate the three-year deal that had been agreed only a few months earlier, including a substantial increase in rent, then Hillhead would consider it dead. Instead, the union called the club's bluff and abandoned Hughenden in favour of Partick Thistle's Firhill.

The initial analysis was that the move would not cost the union much money while giving its fans a better stadium, but the finances are complicated by the fact that while the SRU is threatening legal action against Hillhead, demanding the return of the remainder of the ground rent that was paid up-front for the season, the club is also threatening to sue over money it claims it is owed.

The union is waiting to see how the change of venue will affect attendances at Glasgow's home games, which had been falling anyway with the numerous problems at Hughenden.

Ground dispute could end up in the courts

Gordon McKie, the chief executive of the SRU, has revealed that the dispute between his organisation and the Hillhead/Jordanhill Sports Club, the owners of Hughenden, could end up in the courts, with both sides accusing the other of a breach of contract.
An article by Lewis Stuart in today's edition of The Times reports that, according to McKie, matters came to a head when the union sought a licence to sell alcohol directly to supporters so that they could have a drink and watch the game at the same time. The Hillhead club objected to the application and, as a result, nobody at Glasgow's Heineken Cup game against Leinster Lions in October was able to get a drink before, during or after the match.

After that, relationships between the two sides broke down, culminating in a letter from Hillhead last week giving the SRU 21 days' notice that if it did not renegotiate the three-year deal that had been agreed only a few months earlier, including a substantial increase in rent, then Hillhead would consider it dead. Instead, the union called the club's bluff and abandoned Hughenden in favour of Partick Thistle's Firhill.

The initial analysis was that the move would not cost the union much money while giving its fans a better stadium, but the finances are complicated by the fact that while the SRU is threatening legal action against Hillhead, demanding the return of the remainder of the ground rent that was paid up-front for the season, the club is also threatening to sue over money it claims it is owed.

The union is waiting to see how the change of venue will affect attendances at Glasgow's home games, which had been falling anyway with the numerous problems at Hughenden

This article was originally posted on 1-Dec-2005, 08:26 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 1-Dec-2005, 09:50.