Calder aims to stabilise Stewart’s Melville as he takes on chairman role

Former Scotland and British & Irish Lions star Finlay Calder has been elected chairman of Stewart’s Melville – and he aims to help the Inverleith club bounce back from relegation.

The 60-year-old represented the Edinburgh outfit with distinction during his playing days and earned 34 caps for Scotland in the back row between 1986 and 1991.

During that time the tough tackler also skippered the Lions in Australia in 1989.

And now he has stepped into the post of chairman at Stewart’s Melville vacated by Colin Rigby after a long stint.

This term the club’s first XV struggled and finished second bottom in BT National League Division One, being relegated to Division Two for the 2018-19 campaign.

With some Edinburgh clubs to be part of the new Super Six structure formally announced nextweek,thedroptothethird tier could see a player drain from Stewart’s Melville but Calder is optimistic about the future.

He knows there is a lot of work to be done, though, and said via the club’s social media channels: “I am honoured to be asked [to be chairman] and, of course, will do my utmost, however it’s clear to me that, as a club, we are due Colin the most enormous debt of gratitude. No one could have done more and we are so grateful to him.

“As we all know the club scene in Scotland is in a state of flux, with the successful bidders for the Super Six franchises due to be announced.

“When you drop a level, there are a number of implications, both financially and on a practical basis, too.

“But the facts are that, whatever happens, we need to pull everyone into the club to help stabilise the ship and rebuild.

“If you can help, even in the smallest fashion, we would greatly appreciate it.”

0 Finlay Calder: ‘Honoured’