THE HERALD REPORTS


The strife of Brian
It is probably fair to assume that Brian Kennedy, the owner of Sale Sharks, and Dr Syd Millar, the chairman of the International Rugby Board, will not be sharing a convivial pint in the foreseeable future. One is a successful businessman, who has invested substantial amounts of his own money during the past decade, whilst orchestrating a grand vision for the sport. The other is Dr Millar, whom this week accused the likes of Kennedy of being "selfish"

and "absolutely disgraceful" for threatening to boycott next season's Heineken Cup, on the not unreasonable grounds that France and England's leading clubs continue to be treated akin to chattels by their respective unions.

During our previous conversations, Kennedy, the Edinburgh-born Hibernian FC supporter with a personal fortune estimated as being in excess of £200m, had been pragmatism personified, but clearly recent events have sharpened his tongue. "It can't go on with people such as me pouring millions of pounds into our club organisations, and then having our integrity questioned by people like Sid Vicious his nickname for Millar.

"Only an old-fashioned committee man would have the brass neck to call me or the other 25 members of the French LNR and Premier Rugby Ltd selfish', because, if anything, the opposite is true and nobody ever got involved in rugby in this country to make money," said Kennedy.

"What we have at the moment is unsustainable, and we are all going to end up in the courts if we are not careful. The IRB's current position appears to be that it's okay for those of us in the Guinness Premiership to keep spending our cash, unearthing talent in our academies and making big-money signings, and generally doing all the spade work and laying all the foundations - then they can come along when they feel like it, and tell us: "Right, it's the Six Nations Championship or the World Cup, so you can wave goodbye to your prime assets for the next two months.

"I mean, who exactly is being selfish' here? And, as for the timing of the next World Cup in September and October, it is utterly crazy to be holding it then, in commercial terms or any other which you care to mention. Can you imagine Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho tolerating a scenario where their best players all swanned off to the World Cup in March and April? It would never happen, it is just madness. But that is what Sale and Leicester and Wasps and Stade Francais are being lumbered with. And until we get this sorted out, there will be constant problems, disharmony and rows."

The anachronistic attitudes embodied by Millar and his IRB peers have not simply been manifest throughout the ongoing Heineken Cup dispute. They resurfaced following the SRU's decision to close down the Borders Reivers on financial grounds, announced a fortnight ago, since when a string of local politicians, media pundits and South of Scotland worthies, most of whom couldn't be bothered to attend the team's matches, have subsequently reacted as if this was the biggest iniquity in rugby history.

Once again, Kennedy, who sits on the SRU Board and agrees 100% with the policy implemented by Murrayfield, was disinclined to waste breath with platitudes. Instead, he clinically explained why, in his opinion, the Borders had no future and was a serious drain on the governing body's resources, with attendance levels abysmal and results offering no hint of salvation.

"We debated this for months, even before the strategic review, and did everything in our power to make the Borders formula work, but there were no signs that it was a viable proposition, none whatsoever," he said. "They had 1300 fans, terrible facilities, minimal corporate backing and were languishing at the foot of the Magners League, and let's not forget they have had five years to improve matters, so the figures didn't stack up for an instant.

"Of course, none of us took any pleasure from making the decision, but it shouldn't have been any surprise, and although it is human nature to stick your head in the sand, I am astonished at the ostrich mentality which has held back Scottish rugby since 1995. The truth is that the Borders can't support a professional side, and we were flinging nearly £2m a year at an organisation which was a failure.

"Look at where they are. Look, I know that I am an easy target, and I have heard some people alleging Murrayfield is run by accountants these days, but that is nonsense. Instead, we have finally got to grips with the level of debt around £23m and Gordon McKie, the union's chief executive will be able to reveal decent accounts for the first time in several years at the next agm.

"That doesn't mean I am not sorry to see the Borders go, but, apart from the fuss in the last couple of weeks, there wasn't much interest shown in the pro team, even from the most loyal fans week in, week out. And this is a business we are running."

It's maybe understandable that some observers have criticised Kennedy's dual role as Sale owner and SRU Board member, claiming it represents a conflict of interests. Yet they may be crestfallen to learn the man himself harbours concerns on this score, and freely confesses to occasions where he has been forced to leave meetings in Edinburgh.

"Look, there is a conflict of interest in some areas and instances where wires are crossed," he said. "I can't do anything about that, except abstain from voting where there might be conflict. I stepped down from the remuneration committee, for example, because it wouldn't be right for me to know how much Scottish players are being paid, at the same time as I am looking to strengthen the squad at Sale.

"However, I reckon that out of 100 areas, there will only be two or three where there is any conflict, and that leaves 97 or 98 situations where I can bring my business knowledge to the table. That strikes me as a good deal for Scottish rugby. I am not putting anything back into my own pocket, and it contrasts starkly with what is going on between the clubs and the IRB, where there are perhaps 50 or 60 issues where there are conflicts of interest.

"Basically, from my perspective, they are taking all the decisions and dictating what's in their interests, not ours, that is why we have the present stalemate and battle over Europe.

"How will it end? I hope with a victory for common sense, and a new structure which allows the French and English clubs to benefit from the hundreds of millions of pounds investments which we have made in the past decade. But if it doesn't, we will keep arguing our case, and I can assure you that we will not be deterred from seeking progress by the old guys on the IRB."

Ultimately, it is a straightforward choice. One can go for "Sid Vicious", who has already sparked anarchy across UK rugby. Or Brian Kennedy, an individual with filthy lucre and free market expertise. Only the vacant will find it a taxing dilemma.





By NEIL DRYSDALE

This article was posted on 14-Apr-2007, 07:40 by Hugh Barrow.