Finalists lament the lack of buzz
DAVID FERGUSON
THE coach of Glasgow Hawks has admitted the Scottish Cup's days may be numbered in advocating a fresh look at the structure of the club season.

David Wilson will return to Murrayfield on Saturday as coach of Glasgow Hawks, having captained the team to victory there in 1998. He is preparing for an almighty battle with the Edinburgh Accies pack, which has helped secure promotion from Division Two and disposed of Hawick and Boroughmuir en route to the final.

However, with Borders clubs considering withdrawing from the cup next season in order to reinvigorate the ancient Border League, Wilson is of a similar mind.

He said: "When I was involved in the cup final, there was much more interest, media attention and build-up to it, which was great, but now there is no sponsorship, no prize money and, if you ask all the clubs who have not made it to the final, you might find there is not a lot of interest in the competition.

"Borders clubs are talking about their Border League, and we could have a Glasgow league, Edinburgh league and North and Midlands league, maybe, after the Division One championship ends, and then a return to the old inter-district championship, which would help the selection of a real international club team.

"If you look at our recent semi-final with West of Scotland, we had a fantastic crowd and great interest in two Glasgow teams coming together. If you threw in Ayr, GHA, Cartha QP and others, it would be quite a good competitive league, and attractive.

"Don't get me wrong, all the Hawks guys are really looking forward to this weekend and being part of the cup final because it is a great occasion when you get to this stage, but it's a shame there isn't the same interest in it now and perhaps a different look at the season is what we need."

It is unfortunate the issue has reared its head again days before the cup final, but it was inevitable after the final attracted less than 5,000 people last season and, with a paucity of marketing this year, there remains uncertainty over how many will turn up on Saturday.

There has also been talk of a radical re-shaping of the club season, with a working party even set up for this very purpose. However, clubs have shunned the opportunity to do so, even disregarding an ambitious plan from Gary Parker and Richie Gray for something similar to that proposed by Wilson.

Border clubs met this week and there was a large groundswell of opinion in favour of withdrawing from the cup next season, but, when it comes to voting, clubs across the country regularly step back from anything remotely radical, so such proposals will again be met with scepticism.

The spotlight for eight teams, however, is very much on Murrayfield this weekend. While Edinburgh Accies are bidding to become the first club to win the cup, shield and bowl, Hawks will be making a record fifth final appearance and hope to equal Boroughmuir's hat-trick of wins.

There is an added incentive for many of the Glasgow players in the memory of former stand-off Craig Hodgkinson, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game for the Royal Navy in Plymouth last November.

Hodgkinson was in the Hawks squad that defeated Dundee HSFP in the 2004 final and will be remembered on Saturday when Hawks face the Army in the annual Twickenham clash.

Hodgkinson was in line to play at Twickenham, having starred on a South African tour shortly before his death.

The Royal Navy will also play Hawks in a special memorial match for Craig and to raise funds for a new Trust in his name, at Old Anniesland on Friday, 18 May (7.30pm).

This article was posted on 3-May-2007, 07:13 by Hugh Barrow.