December 01, 2005

Hillhead's side of the story

Posted by Editor on December 1, 2005 12:25 AM | 2 comments | Print | E-mail author

Hillhead Sports Club say Glasgow's time at Hughenden was up
Hillhead Sports Club, the owners of Hughenden, said yesterday the SRU had been told it would not be allowed to use the ground any more after the end of the year.

Glasgow Warriors, who are owned by the SRU, announced on Tuesday that they would be playing at Firhill for the rest of the season, but made no mention of any dispute with Hillhead.

Today's edition of The Scotsman reports that the sports club said they had only been informed by telephone of the decision to move home venue, around the time that the public announcement was made. Rather than being an independent decision, Hillhead claimed, the move was the culmination of a dispute going back months.

"HSC has had concerns for some time about the ground usage arrangements which it has granted to the SRU since 2000," the statement read. "In the course of 2005 the SRU extended the agreement, which was due to expire in September 2005, for a further period of three years until 2008.

"Despite that extension, HSC has had continuing concerns about the SRU's fulfilment of the agreement which culminated on 18 November 2005. HSC intimated formally to the SRU chief executive, Gordon McKie, that it held the SRU to be in breach of its obligations to HSC, and that in the absence of an acceptable response from the SRU to this letter it regarded the agreement as having been vitiated and that its Hughenden ground would not be available to the SRU for Glasgow Warriors' use after 1 January 2006.

"The board of directors of HSC are disappointed that no response was received from the SRU prior to its being notified of the SRU's position by voicemail on 29 November 2005. There remain outstanding issues to be resolved between HSC and the SRU. The board of directors of HSC considers that these are confidential to the parties and disclosure would be inappropriate."

Ron Meikle, the chairman of HSC, added that, while the presence of Glasgow Warriors at the west end venue had not been wholly beneficial, he wished the team well in future. "For its own part, as one of the biggest team sports clubs in the country, Hillhead Sports Club looks forward with great anticipation to the beginning of yet another successful chapter in its long and proud history, and to refocusing its efforts on the needs and wishes of its members, for whom the presence of Glasgow Warriors has often been a mixed blessing."

Comments
Posted by Weegie on December 1, 2005 01:58 PM | Reply to this comment

Seems to me that Mr McKie at the SRU has called the bluff of the blazers at Hughenden, who happen to include George (Saddam) Blackie and David Jordan. Everyone knows that Hillhead Sports Club ("HSC") is "one of the biggest team sports clubs in the country", but it is also one of the worst managed and needs to sell land to sort out its finances.

So HSC made a mistake in extending the Glasgow Warriors' tenure to 2008 and wanted out of the commitment. Hence the problems between the HSC and the SRU, who own the Glasgow Warriors and were upset at the treatment of the fans and HSC's contrived demand for more rent. So the SRU decided to approach Partick Thistle about Firhill, as Scotstoun is still years away.

HSC are making noises because, cash-strapped as they are, they would like to get out of repaying the rent for 2005/06 which the SRU paid them. My bet is that Mr McKie will call some more bluffs successfully and the rent for the balance of the season will be repaid by HSC, but the climb-down will be effected in private, to spare HSC's amateurish blushes.

Watch this space.

Posted by Scott the Scot on December 1, 2005 03:16 PM | Reply to this comment

Quite right - someone talking sense for a change and not just thinking inside a bubble.

Gordon McKie seems to be unprepared to lower himself to the level of mudslinging that is the hallmark of the blazer-boys. I was extremely embarrassed when the supporters were not allowed into the bar at the Leinster game - I have long ago lost interest knowing it would be full of the dandruffy beard types with sheepskin deerstalkers, but the Irish fans thought it was a slight against them!

Even if the only facilities Firhill offers are seats and roof, it will be better than a look down the nose and a slap in the face.

I hope the team keeps the momentum by giving the Easties a roastin on Sunday. McKie has the right idea - move on!

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