THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON
BRIAN Simmers yesterday welcomed the SRU's decision to close the Borders team and push more funding into Glasgow, but warned the union that there were no great stores of wealth to be tapped into in Scotland's largest city.

The former Scotland international is one of the best-placed judges of what kind of support rugby can receive in Glasgow, having worked within the business and rugby communities to form the ambitious new Glasgow Hawks club in 1997 and spent most of last year scouring the wider Glasgow district for help in putting together a plan to franchise the pro team from the SRU.

He admitted he found willing sponsors of several thousands of pounds, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, but no millions being offered to rugby and so had to pull the plug on the effort he made with business partner David Mackay, the former SRU chairman.

Simmers remains hopeful, however, that the union's pledge to appoint a chief executive with real autonomy would give the Glasgow team a chance.

"I have to say I don't think the big-money boys around Glasgow will be interested in investing in a professional team no matter how well run or successful it may be," he said. "But there is the opportunity to bring more funds to the table if the SRU is serious about putting together a much bigger marketing approach under the new chief executive, with the opportunity for hospitality and merchandising, because the lack of a marketing team and plan has been a massive problem.

"That needs to be introduced and if it is then they can start to get round the corporate markets of Glasgow and the greater Glasgow district and we might see some success.

"But, crucially, the union has to establish an independent board, answerable to the union, yes, but with more of an independence. And if they're taking that route and it is seen to be independent there could well be support, but that has to be a clear message from the union and the board. I've had my go and couldn't find the funds we needed to make a professional team work, but my hope is that this announcement means the SRU are going to introduce a much bigger injection of funding.

"I support the decision because pro rugby needs funding and needs success, which should start attracting bigger crowds, but whether there is much greater amounts of money to be uncovered in Glasgow we'll have to wait and see."

Simmers pointed to Scotstoun Stadium and its £11m redevelopment as perfect for the new, improved Glasgow, if the SRU can get its collective head around using temporary seating to cover the athletics track, and he supported the decision taken to cut the Reivers from the professional map.

"They should have made this decision years ago," he said. "In fact, they should never have brought the Borders back in 2002. That was Jim Telfer calling the shots and no-one being prepared to stand up against him. I don't agree that it will be bad for Borders rugby because I think pro rugby sits almost separate to what's going on at the next level. This is a business and these decisions should not be emotional, but commercial.

"You don't open a third shop until you have the existing two working well and the amount of money ploughed in to pro rugby in Scotland trying to get all the 'shops' working has been incredible.

"I also feel two properly-funded pro sides is enough in Scotland, because it gives you 70 players and with around 20 outwith the country you have enough competing for the national team."

However, Simmers, a former Scotland stand-off, insisted that the success of the Glasgow team would still rely heavily on a much greater working relationship between the union and Glasgow's clubs.

"I feel strongly that they have got to address the next level. There is currently no real money coming into club rugby from the union. There are various development managers being funded but the major percentage is coming from the clubs and in order to get the buzz back in the club game they have got to look at the Premiership as the next level."

'NO PRO GAME' WAS CONSIDERED
PRESIDENT Andy Irvine has revealed the Scottish Rugby Union considered withdrawing their support for the professional game in Scotland before deciding only to disband the Border Reivers.

The SRU could have saved £4 million annually, which would have allowed them to slowly clear a £23m debt.

However, fears that Scotland's international performances and status would suffer meant the proposal was dropped and Glasgow Warriors survived, remaining professional alongside the privately-financed Edinburgh side. Borders will be closed down at the end of the season.

Argentina operate without a professional structure to their domestic game, meaning their leading players perform in Europe.

Irvine confirmed: "We looked at the Argentine model, whereby we turn our back on Scottish rugby, save ourselves about £4m a year and pay off our debt.

"But that probably wouldn't be the answer because the welfare of our players in England would come secondary to the motives of the big clubs."

This article was posted on 29-Mar-2007, 07:32 by Hugh Barrow.