SFA DO THEIR SUMS AHEAD OF HAMPDEN DECISION

STEWART REGAN has confirmed Hampden’s future will be effectively decided next month — as first revealed by Sportsmail. Approaching the end of its 20-year lease of the stadium from Queen’s Park, the SFA are mulling over the financial implications of staying and going. They must balance the cost of entering another 20-year arrangement with the amateur club from 2020 with the financial burden of playing internationals and domestic cup finals around the country. Celtic Park, Ibrox and Murrayfield have the capacities to deal with major Scotland matches with the home of rugby also potentially catering for Old Firm clashes. The SFA is now in discussion with both Glasgow clubs as well as Scottish Rugby about the potential cost of such arrangements and Regan said he hoped the final decision would come shortly after next month’s board meeting. ‘We’re exploring the plusses and minuses of going,’ Regan said. ‘The go option will involve exploring Celtic Park and Ibrox, both fantastic stadia where we’ve played matches in recent times against the Republic of Ireland and Georgia, and of course Murrayfield, where we’ve seen Hearts hosting their home matches. ‘Those are the three stadia capable of holding qualifiers because we have had an average attendance of over 31,000 for our qualifiers over the last ten years, so those are the only stadia capable of satisfying that type of demand. For smaller qualifiers we’d consider other stadia like Easter Road, Tynecastle and Pittodrie. ‘But we need to do the numbers, we need to understand the costs of staying and the costs of going. ‘All of that work is being done at the moment. We have a consultant helping us prepare business cases on either side, we’ll discuss that in December and hopefully the board can then decide what the position is after that. In the early part of 2018 we need to be in a position to make a call one way or another.’ Scotland internationals have been played at Hampden since 1906, and it has officially been the national stadium since 1925. As well as internationals, Scottish Cup and League Cup semi-finals and finals have been held there apart from periods when the stadium has been under redevelopment. In addition to exploring the financial pros and cons of staying at Hampden or leaving, the SFA is also canvassing opinion from clubs, managers, the players’ union and supporters’ groups.