THE SCOSMAN REPORTS

DAVID FERGUSON
AN OFFER to take control of one of the three professional teams and unburden the SRU of deepening financial costs has again been made to Gordon McKie, the chief executive of the game's ruling body in Scotland.

Graham Burgess, an Aberdeen oil businessman, told The Scotsman that he and Roy Carver, an American multi-millionaire, remained convinced that their plan to either create a new pro team based in Stirling or move one of the existing sides to the town, has been discussed with the SRU's executive board, but that progress has slowed. He stated: "We met with Gordon McKie, Allan Munro [SRU executive board chairman] and Andy Irvine [union president] within days of Gordon taking over, and we have met four times since, but while there was a lot of initial enthusiasm we have been sitting now for a number of weeks waiting for the discussions to move on.

"I am surprised that they have taken so long. I understand Gordon and his board are new and that Gordon wants time to fully go through the finances, but with the knowledge I have of Scottish rugby in recent years I am confident that when he gets to a conclusion he will realise that professional rugby in Scotland is still a loss-making business as currently run and he will still be under pressure from the bank. That won't change unless significant amounts of private money is allowed in to the game."

Burgess insisted that as well as having Carver on board, others were "waiting in the wings" with support who have made it clear to him and the SRU that they will not put money into the teams while they are run wholly by the SRU. Kenny Logan has agreed to be involved, as commercial director, adding his pulling power in the sponsorship world. Whyte and Mackay moved their substantial sponsorship away from Wasps last year to London Scottish, following Logan, and the former Scotland wing has stated more than once that he has met several individuals in London and abroad, passionate about Scottish rugby and willing to invest in the Scottish game.

Burgess said: "I am not going to discuss figures, and what money we have behind us, but I can assure you it's significant and certainly doesn't pose any problems to us running a team for the next few years. Our plan is for the SRU to put in around £1.5m-£1.8m each year over the next three years and we will put in a similar amount. But we believe we will break even after that period and the investment will then be reduced.

"For that, the SRU will retain a 30 per cent share in the team, have two representatives on a seven-person board running the team and we will ensure that players are made available to the national coaches. I'm pleased with the way the game has started to move with fewer Celtic League games clashing with internationals and I don't see a problem with releasing players when Frank Hadden, or whoever, requires them.

"I do understand, however, that there are elements within the SRU who simply don't like the idea of losing full control of these teams. I am happy to wait and show them the figures I have, discuss every bit of our plans further, but I can't wait forever."

McKie was unavailable for comment, but an SRU spokesperson insisted that the lack of communication between the parties was not necessarily a sign that the SRU had dumped the idea, rather that other issues, such as league reconstruction, had taken precedence.

This article was posted on 3-Mar-2006, 08:26 by Hugh Barrow.