WILL the Hampden Roar become the Paisley Bellow, or, judging from
recent performances, the Linwood Lament?
It is a question which may have to be answered if Renfrew District
Council wins the race to have a #200m national football stadium to
replace Hampden Park built either outside Paisley or in Linwood.
The council yesterday became the latest in a long line of interested
parties who want such a stadium built in their own back yard --
assuming, of course, that the Government comes up with a bumper cheque
to help pay for it.
Instead of accusing the Government of moving the goalposts as councils
usually do, the Renfrew councillors are actively campaigning for the
Scottish Office to re-site the ''new Hampden'' just off the M8 motorway,
with its own railway station for easy access.
Renfrew District Council and the public and private consortium behind
the Renfrew Development Company say their intentions are serious, and
are willing to put up #100,000 for a feasibility study into such a
project.
They want the Government to provide the other #100,000 required for
the study, which would lead to a detailed business plan if the scheme
got the go-ahead.
The Renfrewshire 70,000-seater stadium would be based on the Skydome
in Toronto, Canada, which has a retractable roof to turn the pitch into
an indoor stadium to be used also for pop concerts, boxing title fights,
international tennis and other events.
Turf would be used, but it would be laid on massive trays so that it
could be removed when required.
Restaurants, bars, hotels and car-parking would be included on the
site so that it could be used as an all-year-round entertainment centre.
St Mirren Football Club also has shown an interest in the project, and
its chairman, Mr Lewis Kane, confirmed yesterday that it would consider
moving to the new stadium from Love Street if it came to fruition.
Two sites have been identified by the council as possibilities for a
national stadium -- Linwood, which still has vast areas of unused land
since the car plant closed, and vacant land near the White Cart river.
The advantages of Paisley, say its backers, is its excellent rail and
motorway connections, ample land for development without the problems of
being in a residential area as Hampden is at present, and an airport
nearby.
Revealing the proposal yesterday, Mr Gwyn Kennedy, chief executive of
the Renfrew Development Company, said: ''Such a stadium must be
accessible from all parts of the UK and other countries. What would be
more natural than to see the stadium where you are going to play as you
come in to land?''
An enthusiastic supporter of the scheme is Renfrew's planning
committee chairman, Councillor Owen Taylor, who said yesterday:
''Scotland must have a new stadium. It's as simple as that. We think
Paisley is the best location for it.
''Hampden was out of date 30 years ago and is certainly not the
stadium for Scotland in the 21st century.''
His eyes had a faraway look as he speculated on future European Cup
finals being played in Paisley and world title fights -- Mike Tyson
against five Paisley vounteers, he suggested.
The cost? Roughly about #200m, depending on the outcome of the
feasibility study if it went ahead. The Government's share would be
about #60/#80m with the remainder coming from private firms.
Paisley, of course, follows other areas seeking the stadium -- West
Lothian, Motherwell and even Bannockburn. But as Mr Kennedy pointed out:
''Bannockburn has already done its bit for Scotland.''
Meanwhile, the Scottish Football Association expects to take a
decision on Hampden's future before the end of the year.
Scottish Sports Minister Michael Forsyth has shown his willingness for
the Government to provide ''top up'' cash for whichever scheme is
chosen.
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