THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Irvine favourite to be elected new SRU president

DAVID FERGUSON

THE way is clear for Andy Irvine to be elected president of the Scottish Rugby Union, after it emerged last night that the only other candidate for the post is former general committee member George Blackie.

Irvine is one of the most popular and successful figures in Scottish rugby, while Blackie was one of the architects of the removal of executive board chairman David Mackay and chief executive Phil Anderton, a move which has attracted widespread criticism.

The election, which will take place at the SRU agm on 24 June, comes under the new governance structure endorsed by clubs last month.

It also became clear last night that several members of the general committee will lose their places in the new hierarchy, with up to eight of the 14 members facing the exit as candidates are put forward for the new Scottish Rugby Council.

If Blackie loses the presidency election, he will join Gordon Dixon and Colin Fisher on the sidelines. Dixon’s term as president is coming to an end, while Fisher lost his place with the removal of an Exiles member.

A further four general committee members have fallen out of the picture as five district representatives are selected for the council - Arthur McCulloch (Aberdeen GSFP), Archie Ferguson (Dalziel), Bob Hogarth (Peebles) and Peter Miller (Inverleith). One other general committee member will also lose out, as Jim Gracie (Alloa and Hillfoots) goes head-to-head with David Nicol (Dundee HSFP) for the post of Midlands representative.

In three districts, candidates have been returned unopposed, with Gordon Cox (Moray), Bill Nolan (Oban Lorne) and Norman Douglas (Selkirk) representing North, Glasgow and Borders respectively. In Edinburgh, there are three candidates for election: George Jack (Biggar and Leith), Jim Littlefair (North Berwick) and Barry Sinclair (Portobello).

There is, however, an alternative route for election to the council for general committee, and former Glasgow District representative Ferguson has confirmed he will seek election to one of the National League clubs’ two representative posts.

This article was posted on 4-May-2005, 10:14 by Hugh Barrow.