THE HERALD REPORTS

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer June 26 2006

The business collaboration of two of the most high profile figures in recent Scottish rugby history has opened up a world of possibilities for Glasgow Warriors.
With only a fortnight left to SRU chief executive Gordon McKie's self-imposed deadline for getting one of the three groups of potential investors with whom he is in negotiation to sign up it seems clear that their proposal is the one that is so far least developed.
McKie says that of the 11 that initially showed interest only three look like serious bidders and of those two are at a more advanced stage than the other.
Speaking last week to Brian Simmers, the Glasgow Hawks president, after he revealed he has joined forced with David Mackay, the former SRU chairman, to try to keep professional rugby in Scotland's biggest city, it was obvious their planning has been restricted by the confidentiality agreements entered into. Yet looking at their outline model it is the proposal which may have the greatest chance of long-term success. They want to involve the entire city, the business community and the local authority, in building a sporting organisation that does much more than compete at elite level.
In a way Celtic and Rangers currently cannot, and will not, be able to do for the forseeable future, a professional rugby team can offer the city an international profile while also representing the entire community. That in turn provides the city council with a vehicle through which to develop agendas such as health education and social inclusion. Similarly, those promoting tourism or organising major events would be able to link in with the team's regular visits to Ireland and Wales for Celtic League matches, as well as going further afield. The coming season demonstrates how much of a guarantee there is of that since they failed to qualify for the European Cup yet will still head to London, to south-west France and to Northern Italy in the lesser European Challenge Cup tournament.
Until now the general perception has been that private investment means individuals or consortia buying controlling holdings of professional teams, but the Simmers/Mackay proposal is more about managing investment. Expenditure of £500,000 to £1m per year in the knowledge that it could take several years to reach profitability is by no means as frightening a prospect if the risk is sufficiently spread and the social and community benefits are properly understood.
They are effectively inviting businesses to buy shares, in turn earning voting rights as to who would be on the board. Those representatives would be part of a tight knit team on which both the SRU and the city council would be involved. That is why Simmers realised on Friday that, after the SRU announced its withdrawal from involvement in the re-development of Scotstoun Stadium, he and Mackay had to break cover.
Among the great lessons to be learned from continental sport in particular is the way leading clubs can work with local authorities in using and promoting municipal facilities to mutual benefit. Glasgow's city council is meanwhile extremely aware of the need to work with existing sports clubs to develop its policies. It is a subject I have discussed on a couple of occasions with John Lynch, the council's culture and recreation services convener, most recently at an event marking the centenary of Cartha QP.
While Simmers' Hawks have dominated Scottish club rugby in recent times Cartha, who host the City of Glasgow Sevens tournament, have been trail-blazers in terms of reaching into the community. Apply their principles across the entire city and the potential is limitless.
What is needed, however, is a platform on which to develop the necessary ideas and partnerships. That is what Simmers and Mackay can provide. The rest is down to how many in the business community are prepared to financially support the long-held belief that Glasgow is a major sporting city.

This article was posted on 26-Jun-2006, 09:46 by Hugh Barrow.