Scottish football fans remain undecided on a proposal to establish a new national stadium for the sport, according to a survey by the Scottish Football Supporters Association.
Partially published by the BBC, the new survey shows that just 15 per cent of 2,923 fans would prefer Hampden Park to remain the home of Scottish football, while 34 per cent of supporters favour a move to Murrayfield.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) recently opened talks with the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) over the possibility of establishing Murrayfield as the new home for the country’s national football team.
Murrayfield is home to Scottish rugby and has a larger capacity of 67,000, while Hampden Park can seat 52,000 fans. The SFA’s lease on Hampden Park is due to expire in 2020 and the national governing body is now exploring its options as it seeks to expand the sport’s audience in Scotland.
However, the Scottish Football Supporters Association survey has now thrown up a number of other options, with 25 per cent of fans favouring the idea of playing national team games at stadia across Scotland, while 24 per cent would like a “new Hampden” built.
The study also revealed that an overwhelming 97 per cent of supporters believe that fans should have an input on the final decision regarding the move.
Meanwhile, a number of major names in Scottish football have also had their say on the proposed move and, much like the fans’ survey, have offered differing views on the subject.
Craig Levein, former manager of the Scottish national side and currently boss of Scottish Premiership club Hearts, backed the idea of playing matches and stadia around the country, telling the BBC that the SFA should “look at other options”.
However, Derek McInnes, manager of Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, said he would be against a move away from Hampden Park, saying that the venue is “something we should cherish”.
Image: Martin Le Roy
