THERE will be a straight shoot-out between Hampden Park and BT Murrayfield this summer for the right to host Scottish Cup finals and Scotland internationals after the SFA board kicked out rival bids from Celtic Park and Ibrox. After months of speculation, the governing body's top brass met in the bowels of the famous old Mount Florida stadium yesterday afternoon to consider a comprehensive Options Review into what opportunities exist for them beyond merely extending the existing 20-year lease for the use of Hampden Park, which is set to expire in 2020. With the cost of that deal – thought to be around £800,000 per annum – widely considered to be unsustainable, the board considered submissions in what is a dilemma ripe with financial, emotional and political complications.

Not least of these came from Queen’s Park, the amateur Grandees of the national game since 1867, for whom moving on from Hampden could deal a potentially crippling financial blow, in the region of £300,000 annually. Scottish Rugby, who have launched a charm offensive to see international football moved to the other side of the M8, in close proximity to the SFA’s new performance base at Oriam, made their pitch, as did Celtic and Rangers, both of whom submitted rival bids to host matches. 

But with a request from Glasgow City Council to review the timescales of any decision also acknowledged, the board decided to kick out the idea of hosting matches at Celtic Park or Ibrox in favour of retaining a properly neutral venue for cup finals. Hampden was given a stay of execution, at least until the summer, when a final decision will be made between it and moving to Murrayfield. 

The famous Mount Florida venue, 115 years old this year, will host matches at Euro 2020 but often criticised for its spectator experience, further redevelopment is surely out of reach of a national association which has failed to deliver Scotland to a major finals for 20 years at a time of severe pressure on the public purse. Moving on would also mean the SFA having to find a new base for its office and administrative functions, uprooting the national team from its ancestral home in Glasgow, and countenancing the potential security headache of hosting Old Firm finals in Edinburgh. “Having considered all submissions and supporting documentation, the board has decided to further develop two positive options: remaining at Hampden Park beyond 2020 and moving to BT Murrayfield,” the SFA said. “This decision was taken after considering the financial implications of all proposals submitted. Given the complexity of the discussion, the board was unanimous that more work requires to be undertaken to bring further clarity and certainty to any final decision.”

A Celtic spokesperson said: “We were asked to consider a 20-year commitment and Celtic was willing to enter a transparent, open-book partnership process, to assess the suitability of Celtic Park to host matches.

“Clearly, the SFA has rejected this approach and chosen not to consider Celtic Park as a potential venue. This is something we accept and we wish the association well in pursuing their other options.”
"Rangers note the SFA's decision to pursue only two options for their future base," a Rangers statement read. "It is pleasing Ibrox Stadium - a world renowned venue - was seriously viewed as a possible base. Rangers were willing to enter into a lengthy and mutually beneficial partnership but fully respect the governing body's decision to look elsewhere."