...AND STURGEON DOESN’T RULE OUT HAMPDEN FUNDING

FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the Scottish Government is ‘open to discussions’ on the future redevelopment of hampden.

Scottish Football Association chiefs are set to investigate plans to renovate the national stadium after opting out of a move to Murrayfield.

The governing body’s chief executive Ian Maxwell has called for ‘collective action’ to transform the ground — heavily criticised by the Tartan Army for the overall experience it provides and especially the views on offer from behind either goal — and hopes to persuade holyrood bosses to help pay for the refurbishment work.

The SFA announced earlier this month it had struck a £5million deal to buy hampden from Queen’s Park but that was only made possible after businessmen lord Willie haughey and Sir Tom hunter stepped forward to donate around half the purchase cost.

Maxwell has already stated the SFA could look to follow the model used by VfB Stuttgart when they removed the running track from their Mercedes-Benz Arena in 2011.

Now Ms Sturgeon says she is happy to hold talks with hampden chiefs to see how the Government can assist.

The First Minister — whose Glasgow Southside constituency neighbours the district covering the home of Scottish football — told Radio Clyde: ‘[Staying at hampden] was a decision for the SFA. I get the sense that a lot of people across the country are pleased with that decision.

‘Clearly it was controversial and there are people who will think another decision should have been made.

‘As a member of parliament for the south side of Glasgow, I’m glad to see the national team staying here at hampden. Now it’s about looking to the future.

‘We will continue to have discussions with the SFA.

‘Money is tight, it’s always tight for all sorts of things but we are a great supporter of what is done here around football so we are open to discussions over the medium to long-term.’