MSPs urged to hear clubs in rugby row
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Premer 1 Secretary Kenny Hamilton
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BILL LOTHIAN reports

THE former administrator of the centrally-run Borders district team was today urging politicians at the Scottish Parliament to look to the clubs for a solution to rugby’s problems as an inquiry was getting underway at Holyrood.

The Enterprise and Culture committee were due to hear representations following the turmoil which engulfed the game at the beginning of the year prompted by a SRU general committee revolt.

Ron Sutherland has written to the committee querying whether they will be listening to the right people - especially when club organisations are being revived to protect grassroots interests.

Lined-up to address the committee are SRU chief executive/chairman Fred McLeod, Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan and a general committee representative. Former chief executive Phil Anderton is also due to attend. Said Sutherland: "It is quite clear a lot of people at club level have been querying recent activities of the General Committee and if the principal stakeholders - the clubs - are not going to be heard in a review of this nature then it is worrying.

"There might be some distortions at a time when all sorts of agendas exist; the best people to put forward club views are the representatives of the clubs themselves."

Premier Clubs Association chief Kenny Hamilton said: "Following the recent SGM Fred McLeod and Ian McGeechan are claiming an endorsement to continue funding the three pro teams. That is a matter of interpretation.

"It is imperative the parliamentarians take a wider view although I welcome today’s meeting."

This article was posted on 4-Mar-2005, 21:38 by Hugh Barrow.