As reported in yesterday's Herald, it has emerged that the Premier One Forum, made up of 12 top clubs, has demanded a new agenda for the SGM on 30 January, challenging the conclusion of the SRU's year-long strategic review. Kenny Hamilton, the Glasgow Hawks' member of the forum, explained in today's Scotsman: "There is a real frustration through all the clubs, to be honest, and a huge sense of disillusionment with the whole review process.
"Contrary to clubs being central to the future of the game, this plan actually removes clubs from that and gives them a fringe role as recruitment agencies and financial contributors."
However, Mackay, the SRU executive board chairman, warned that it was now "make or break" for the sport and dismissed the contention that the review took clubs away from the centre of the game.
"That is a total nonsense," he said. "We are trying to grow the grassroots game because mid to long-term that will make or break Scottish rugby, and clubs are at the very heart of that.
"The plan, fundamentally, is to separate the community game from the professional game, and this year it has been difficult - 2004 was always going to be a transitory year - but 2005 is very much about growing the game and putting money into the grassroots, from premier clubs down to schoolboys and below, and anyone who hasn't picked that up can't possibly have read this plan fully, or has misinterpreted it. This is a plan for Scottish rugby, not for one part of it, and we always knew there would be parts which wouldn't please everyone. That is what a special general meeting is all about - there will be motions, amendments and counter motions, to be debated freely and openly, and they will either be carried or not - and that is where this has to be sorted out, not with alternative agendas. The downside for Scottish rugby if the plan is not carried is very difficult to contemplate."
You can read David Ferguson's Scotsman article here