EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

Edinburgh to hit the road amid Murrayfield ban
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
EDINBURGH Rugby fear a nomadic existence this season with owner Bob Carruthers admitting they could be forced out of their hire arrangement at Murrayfield.

If that happens due to a long running saga between club owners and the Scottish Rugby Union then Meggetland was today touted as a possible alternative for key clashes including a visit from three times European champions, Toulouse.

Edinburgh are due to play home ties against Toulouse and Leinster before Christmas together with an programme of Magners Celtic League matches in the Capital starting against Ulster on the last weekend of September. But Carruthers admits he cannot be sure where these matches will be played.

"We have a contract with the SRU but they have made it clear they want a fight and when that happens, as has been seen, there is no predicting how they will behave. Their attitude is to try to force us out of business." That was a reference to the SRU writing to inform Carruthers they are withdrawing funding amidst allegations the club have broken an agreement. This is disputed by the club.

Carruthers, who also accused the SRU of breaching a deal whereby they should pay for the image rights of Edinburgh employees being used to promote forthcoming World Cup warm up fixtures at Murrayfield, said: "We hope it will be business as usual at Murrayfield but the alternative includes having to make sure a ground comes up to the standards expected by the European Cup authorities.

"I suppose Meggetland, if available, might be one possibility."

If Edinburgh did transfer to the Council owned home of Boroughmuir it would mean a massive drop in capacity.

In the past Edinburgh have used a variety of homes for Euro ties including Meadowbank and Myreside.

Looking further ahead Carruthers said it was ridiculous that Edinburgh would soon embark on a league campaign without knowing the criteria for qualification for the 2008-09 European Cup.

Carruthers said he was looking to a forthcoming SRU financial agm to shed further light on the dispute.

"The SRU accounts which have to be presented at the end of August are going to have to deal with what they entered into with Edinburgh," he said.

• THE Forum of Scottish Rugby Supporters today announced a resolution calling for a negotiated solution to the dispute.

This article was posted on 31-Jul-2007, 11:09 by Hugh Barrow.