The Sunday Times July 09, 2006

Reivers coach on knife edge over future

STEVE BATES, the embattled Border Reivers coach, has admitted that the continued lack of a concrete decision on the future of the pro teams represents a “double-edged sword” for his side, writes Mark Palmer.

Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) officials had hoped to announce by the end of last month whether control of one of the three teams would be passed to a third party, or one would have to close to stem core debts expected to hit £26m this year. But as negotiations with potential investors take longer than Gordon McKie, the chief executive, had publicly anticipated, Bates may still not know if his team has a future when most of the squad report for pre-season training on July 17. Academy players and those not involved in the summer’s two representative tours returned last Monday, with their coach unsure how to interpret the lack of news.

“You can look at it in two ways: the further it [the judgment] is delayed, the more difficult it’s going to be to integrate people into other teams should the decision be to cut to two,” he says. “At the same time, the longer it goes on, the more optimistic I am that there is a solution to be found. All we can do is assume we’re still going to be here, but it’s not ideal.”

Survival for the Reivers almost certainly depends on McKie agreeing terms for Glasgow Warriors with the Graham Burgess/ Roy Carver/ Kenny Logan consortium. It is understood the group submitted a detailed final proposal ahead of the SRU annual meeting on June 30, but have yet to receive an official response. Some Murrayfield sources do, however, indicate that some form of agreement is likely. The group intend to relocate Glasgow to Stirling, to play at the town’s Forthbank stadium.

Opposition was stirred by Brian Simmers, the Glasgow Hawks honorary president, at a meeting of the Warriors supporters’ club at Old Anniesland last night. Simmers, along with David Mackay, a former SRU chairman, a fortnight ago launched a rival bid to keep the team in Glasgow with a view to playing at Scotstoun when council-funded redevelopment of the stadium is complete, probably in time for season 2009-10.

As yet, however, they have received “no firm commitment” from the “three or four men of financial note” canvassed for support. An annual investment of at least £1m would be required for a controlling stake, possibly much more, given that Murrayfield spends as much as £3.2m on each side once central administrative costs are taken into account.

“There is very strong interest out there, and we feel that this can be turned into financial support once the plan is promoted more widely,” said Simmers last night. “The SRU see us as serious rugby and business players, and I know they would give us strong support were we able to offer the appropriate finance.”

McKie will tomorrow brief players from all three teams on the likely timescale of his decision, before departing on annual leave.

This article was originally posted on 9-Jul-2006, 15:00 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 9-Jul-2006, 17:44.