THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

SRU set us up to fail, claim angry Borders players as revolt erupts
DAVID FERGUSON
BORDERS rugby players last night launched an astonishing attack on their employers and the Scotland national coach as the row over the decision to shut down the Reivers professional team erupted.

Players, who include a host of internationalists, stated that they felt they had been "set up to fail" by the Scottish Rugby Union this season, and that instead of the poor crowds showing a lack of support for the Borders team it reflected a widespread lack of support for the SRU.

The SRU took the dramatic decision on Tuesday to cut the Border Reivers in a desperate bid to stem the union's £23million debt, and channel some of the money from the Borders into Glasgow to create a more competitive team in the west of Scotland. Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive, insisted the union had run out of alternatives and that continuing with the Borders and Glasgow - Edinburgh, the third pro side, are now privately owned - would lead to a wholly uncompetitive professional game and damage the national side.

Andy Irvine, the SRU President, stated that it was "a marginal call" between closing the Borders and Glasgow, but that they opted to stick with Glasgow in the hope that a better-funded and more competitive team would have a better chance of generating significant revenues in Scotland's largest city.

However, the decision has provoked a storm of protest in the Borders, where fears had been growing that the new SRU leadership was turning its back on the region famed as being the only area in Scotland where rugby is the dominant sport.

Borders players met at the club yesterday and, with close to 30 senior players and apprentices facing redundancy, opted to make public their feelings through the Scottish Professional Rugby Players Association (SPRA). Absent from the meeting were four current internationalists, Chris Cusiter, Kelly Brown, Gavin Kerr and Ross Ford, who are known to be supportive of their team-mates, but who are currently on holiday and were not privy to the statement.

The statement posed a number of questions to the SRU, including what the SRU's long-term plan was, how young talent in the Borders would continue to be developed, how much money was being saved and how much really would go to Glasgow, who represented the Borders and players in the recent review into professional rugby, why the offer from Edinburgh owner Bob Carruthers to buy the Borders was not investigated nor made public. The offer was received on a Friday and rejected the following Monday.

The players' statement said: "The SRU have stated that they are at fault and have let the Borders down. If that is the case then why has the club been closed, rather than helped? The players feel this statement is grossly patronising given that it is the players, and not the SRU top brass, who are losing their jobs.

"The feeling amongst the players is that they were set up this season to fail. Despite qualifying for the Heineken Cup last season, the club was subjected to negative comments from Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive, after only three matches of the current season. This drove away two local sponsors.

"The SRU also dragged their heels when it came to issuing season tickets; marketing was either negligible or non-existent ... the club was only able to employ three administrative staff, who were moved into portacabins mid-season ... the pitch was poorly maintained ... two coaches were re-designated to the national team midway through the season.

"The players are also disappointed that Frank Hadden - who is acting as director of rugby, and one of a few people who must have had input into this decision - was in Hong Kong, coaching an invitational side, when the players that are being made redundant were hearing the news.

"The SRU talk about the lack of support from the public. However, the actions of the CEO have been counter-productive. Initially he demanded that people go to watch Reivers games, but then filled the air with uncertainty about the future. The players believe that people in the Borders don't want to support the SRU, and that's the main reason for poorer crowds.

"The phrasing of the press release announcing Tuesday's decision - Warriors pro team strengthened as Border Reivers closes' - was highly insensitive."

The players requested a meeting with the SRU's three leading figures, Gordon McKie, Allan Munro and Andy Irvine, saying they "do not want fobbed off with accountants and HR personnel", before concluding: "The players would like to stress that they plan to give their all during their remaining matches this season, and would like to thank their loyal supporters who have stood by them in trying circumstances."

In response, the SRU last night stated: "[The SRU's] Chairman Allan Munro, Chief Executive Gordon McKie and President Andy Irvine met with the Border Reivers players and staff early on Tuesday 27 March to inform them first hand of the Scottish Rugby Board's decision regarding its pro teams and to answer any questions either privately or as a group.

"The closure of a pro team is a difficult decision to take. They, and the Board as a whole, fully appreciate the matter is very sensitive for everybody directly affected by the decision.

"However, it is also a private matter and [the SRU] will be progressing all aspects of the closure directly and not through the media. The process of supporting the players and staff is ongoing at all levels."

This article was posted on 30-Mar-2007, 07:13 by Hugh Barrow.