interview Cranston outlines co-operative approach to sport's governance which could allow clubs to control destiny, writes Kevin Ferrie

The former chief executive of the Border Reivers professional rugby team has launched a proposal which could lead to a complete overhaul of how the sport is run throughout Scotland. Before his involvement with the Borders team, Alastair Cranston, the ex-Scottish international centre, made his business reputation by setting up an agricultural co-operative, the Borders Machinery Ring, and running it from 1987 to 2002.

Since his three years with the Border Reivers ended in 2005, he has developed Smeddum Ltd, a sports, tourism and environmental agency whose projects include looking to set up a Borders Sports Ring. He is also a director of Borders Machinery Ring and a member of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Co-operatives.

The Reivers team was disbanded in 2007 with a promise that the money saved would be invested in making Edinburgh, currently eighth in the Magners League and Glasgow Warriors, currently 11th of 12, successful.

Citing the example of European football’s leading club Barcelona, Cranston believes co-operative principles can generate success while reuniting Scottish rugby.

His initiative comes at a time when concern is growing about how the sport is being run, a matter highlighted recently by a Facebook campaign which sought support for a virtual “event” described as a “challenge to the Scottish Rugby Union”. It attracted the support of around 5500 people.

Cranston says he has held consultations with representatives of all spheres of the sport including coaches, administrators, former players, sponsors, businessmen, agents, politicians, and the media as well as, notably, Ian McLauchlan, the SRU’s current president.

“It used to be said that ‘the SRU is the clubs’ but various restructuring models have arguably created an expensive quango largely unaccountable to and not controlled by the clubs,” said Cranston. “This, it is contended, has been demonstrated to have damaged the game in Scotland. Return to an accountable and controllable structure, possibly by a co-operative, would allow the clubs to control their own destiny and put rugby first at all levels.

“A structure is envisaged which would put a significant emphasis on developing the Murrayfield facility as a sports educational facility; return control of the organisation to the clubs through a co-operative or similar structure; introduce a pro-am tier of rugby; and benefit the pro teams and national teams.

“None of this will seem new to many supporters of rugby in Scotland and none of it is cast in stone. This paper is intended only to stimulate discussion and to establish if there is sufficient support and consensus to allow the clubs to take a greater role in the game at all levels and, by so doing, improve the game for the benefit of all and to address the concerns expressed by many over the last few years.”

He noted that the clubs have only themselves to blame for what has happened in recent years.

“Scottish rugby control was also given up by clubs who voted for Scottish rugby management to be handled within a corporate model which, although of value and proven to be so in many cases in other non sports-related business situations, has been unable to beneficially affect Scottish rugby performance and morale at both grassroots and international level.”

Central to his proposal is the plan to increase access to the national headquarters for those involved in all sections of the game.

“Murrayfield is underused as a facility and generally regarded as remote from the majority of those involved in the game,” said Cranston.

“It would lend itself to development, possibly in conjunction with tertiary educational bodies, as a centre for rugby excellence in Scotland.

“The facility would be available to all clubs and would allow their players and coaches to benefit from a structured and professional training regime while still being available to their clubs and not ‘hoovered up’ into the system.

“Vocational education would also be available together with a structure to allow clubs to share in the educational role. A genuine [educational] facility would attract charitable status as an educational institute and be eligible for part government funding. It would be open to all, which would benefit the game with its open nature and attract political support whilst encouraging greater involvement in the game at all levels.

“It may also open up options to allow the development of the Murrayfield site to assist in generating revenue rather than lying fallow.”

A Scottish Rugby spokesman said last night that they were aware of the discussion document. “Like much comment or feedback from our supporters, it is clear that there is considerable passion and affection for the sport,” he said.

“We firmly believe it is important that we engage and listen to club members, sponsors, stakeholders and supporters, not just because the clubs are indeed the union, but because that is the right thing to do.

“Our present structure of governance, arrived at after extensive consultation and the approval of our club membership, is widely regarded as a model of good practice for a sports organisation which has clubs at its very core, has brought stability and development to the game in Scotland and, thanks to the tremendous efforts of many clubs, schools, volunteers and Scottish Rugby staff, led to an increase in participation in the game throughout the country in recent years.”