The Scottish Football Association is considering buying Glasgow’s Hampden Park from League One club Queen’s Park.
The SFA currently leases the stadium under a deal that expires in 2020 and includes the option for extension.
The organisation is currently considering its options and is weighing up whether to move to Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium or remain at Hampden Park beyond 2020.
Queen’s Park president Alan Hutchinson has today (Friday) said that the SFA will only continue to use Hampden Park as its home stadium if it buys the venue from the club.
In a blog published on the club’s website, Hutchinson said: “Remaining at Hampden or moving their headquarters to Murrayfield are the only two options currently being considered. The SFA will remain at Hampden only if they own it. I have it from a number of sources that the Murrayfield option is definitely not a bluff.
“The SFA recognise that their proposition is a difficult one for this club, and would be an extremely difficult and emotional decision for us to make. From our point of view, we have been reliant on the income generated by Hampden since 1903, and if we are to consider giving up ownership there are many complex issues which would need to be addressed.
“We have a long and proud history in the development and nurturing of the game of football both nationally and internationally. We also have been the owners of Scotland’s national stadium for the past 115 years. No-one can take that heritage away from us. But perhaps the time has now come for us to accept that Scottish Football in the 21st century has changed, and that in order to survive we too have to change. We have an opportunity to ensure the survival of the Queen’s Park Football Club, free from potential liabilities.
“We have reached a pivotal moment in our 150-year history, and now we will have to decide whether or not to sell Hampden to the SFA.”
According to the Daily Record newspaper, the SFA’s bid to buy Hampden Park could be worth as little as £2m (€2.3m/$2.8m). The stadium has a capacity of 51,000 and serves as the home ground for the Scottish national team. It also hosts domestic cup finals.
Image: Martin Le Roy
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