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March 15, 2006

McKie wants to find a home for Glasgow

Posted by Editor on March 15, 2006 02:04 PM | 5 comments | Print | E-mail author

Glasgow are playing their home games at Firhill
SRU chief executive Gordon McKie has vowed to a find suitable home for Glasgow's professional rugby team.

Glasgow Warriors currently play their home games at Partick Thistle Football Club's Firhill Stadium in Glasgow's Westend and train at Whitecraigs on the Southside of the city, with their offices several miles to the east of Glasgow in Coatbridge.

"We are evaluating two or three locations in Glasgow for training and rehab, and in terms of playing we have an arrangement until the end of the season for Firhill and discussions are under way as to the possibilities for next year," said McKie on Sporting Life.

"At the moment no decision has been made as to where Glasgow might play, but one thing is for certain and that is that the current arrangements will not be acceptable, we have to improve on them.

"We are in discussion with Glasgow City Council about the prospect of playing at Scotstoun Stadium," McKie added.

McKie also told The Herald: "I think the set-up this year hasn't helped, moving between Anniesland, Hughenden and Partick, and I accept a share of that responsibility, but we are where we are.

"We as a board are disappointed with how Glasgow has gone this year and are looking for improvement. We all need to work together to understand what's gone wrong and to put in place necessary corrective action to make sure it improves because it's on a downward slide.

"We are looking at playing, management, coaching, support, training, rehab, timing of games. We will be discussing that in terms of what we need to do to improve and also support Hugh Campbell in making that team do better."

Comments
Posted by hugh on March 15, 2006 04:00 PM | Reply to this comment

Scotstoun looks the best bet-this brings in the "municipal" model--which of course brings in compromise with other sports particularly athletics who have a legitimate claim to Scotstoun having been there for over a century. In fact the new leader of the Lib-Dems started his career there with Victoria Park AAC before switching to Garscube Harriers
The interests of athletics are being represented by GAA 9Glasgow Athletic Association) a body set up to look after the needs of the various athletic clubs that use Scotstoun--maybe rugby should do the same and not leave it simply to the Warriors

Posted by steve on March 16, 2006 10:48 AM | Reply to this comment

I hope the public transport links improve if we move to Scotstoun! - I've already checked the trains from the city centre and they stop around 6/7pm - not so good for getting home - we dont all have cars!
I remember folk on this messageboard moaning about the accessibility of Firhill - its easy to get to compared to Scotstoun!

Posted by stones on March 16, 2006 11:10 AM | Reply to this comment

Scotstoun isn't that bad for public transport (as long as you are willing to go via the city centre!). The no. 62 bus runs 24hrs and stops within a 10 min walk of Scotstoun. Also stops outside Central Station.

Good point about not everyone having a car though - unfortunately I sometimes think that we're too much in the minority for the powers-that-be to bother taking into consideration.

Posted by Big col on March 18, 2006 04:38 PM | Reply to this comment

My worry about Scotstoun ,is the athletics track around the pitch leaves the fans a fair distance from the action.Also it is very similar albeit on a smaller scale to Meadowbank seating wise. Are there parking facilities ?

Posted by DRGreg on March 20, 2006 05:00 PM | Reply to this comment

Firstly the transport links are better than you think. The no44 bus stops within a 5 minute walk of Scotstoun and you could get the train to Jordanhill, a 10 minute walk to the stadium (there are evan plans afoot to buld an intermediate station between scotstounhill and Jordanhill, I doubt this will be built if the stadium is not re-developed and Glasgow warriors don't make it thier home). The is ample parking in the red cinder area of Victoria park. As regards the running track, if the stand is to be demolished and rebuilt, couldn't someone come-up with a tier of seating that goes over the track but is able to removed or retracted for athletic meets?

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