Findlay quits Killie to sign for Philadelphia
Kilmarnock and Scotland defender Stuart Findlay has completed his move to the United States with MLS side Philadelphia Union.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson had been hoping to lure the Kilmarnock centre-back to Tynecastle this summer, with his contract at Rugby Park set to expire.
But Union swooped in with a six-figure fee to sign the player outright. Once Kilmarnock accepted, it was up to the 25-year-old and he decided his future lay with the reigning MLS Cup holders rather than staying in Scotland.
Findlay, inset, said: “It’s a life-changing move for me, my fiancée and my family with a new way of life and, at this stage of my career, this was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“I wanted to end my time with Kilmarnock in the best way possible and I’m pleased the club will benefit financially from me moving on before my contract expires.
It’s a move that is right for all parties and I’m glad the fans have been understanding about everything.
“To be able to share some of the moments and goals I’ve scored with the fans – it’s impossible not to hold the club dear to your heart. I’ll miss the football, the supporters and the people around the club, who I’ve shared these great years with.”
Findlay – who helped Kilmarnock achieve their highest ever top-flight finish under former manager Steve Clarke two seasons ago and won a Scotland cap in the process – will travel to the US in time for the start of the 2021 MLS season, scheduled for April 3. Kilmarnock’s head of football operations James Fowler added: “We didn’t want to lose Stuart but, with his contract expiring in a few months, it is a good deal for the club and presents Stuart with a new and exciting challenge in his career. Stuart has enjoyed many good moments here and has been a great ambassador for the club and we wish him all the very best.”
Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations match with France is unlikely to be scheduled for next weekend as tournament organisers try to come up with a new date that suits all parties.
The sides were due to meet at the Stade de France in Paris this Sunday but the game was postponed after the home side lost another player – the 11th this week – following a coronavirus outbreak in the French squad.
The Scots have lobbied hard for the fixture not to be played on 6-7 March because that weekend lies outside of the international Test window, and English Premiership sides would be under no obligation to release their players for Six Nations action.
That could deny Scotland coach Gregor Townsend the services of the likes of captain Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray among others.
France’s players are now isolating after the latest Covid-19 positive and that makes playing next weekend unlikely.
Discussions between the two nations plus Six Nations chiefs and TV broadcasters on a rearranged date are ongoing and, while reports in France now say July is being considered, Scotland will also resist that option because it clashes with the Lions tour.
The technology sector has been an economic powerhouse for Scotland in recent years, but experts fear that Brexit could limit opportunities for collaborative research, and undermine the country’s ability to attract the best tech talent.
Mark Parsons, pictured, director of EPCC, the University of Edinburgh’s supercomputing centre, says: “Engagement in collaborative research – by companies, universities and research centres – is vital in the technology field.
“The UK has joined Horizon Europe but not Digital Europe, which means Scotland and the UK will not be able to join some collaborative projects they have in the past, especially in areas like supercomputing, AI and quantum.
“I think Scotland has always benefited from collaboration in these areas and any reduction is not a good thing.”
Parsons believes that European nationals have made a huge impact in the tech sector in Scotland, and admits to both a professional and personal interest.
He explains: “I did my PHD in Geneva and my wife came from Luxembourg to do her PHD here and stayed. We’ve had a lot of Polish staff in particular at EPCC and they have been fantastic.
“We run a Data Science MSC and we have always attracted a good number of students from Europe, but we think that will fall as European students will be classed as the rest of the world, fees will go up and we might be seen as less attractive.”
Parsons also voices fears that recruitment will be more of a challenge – at a time when Scotland is hungry for talent, as the country’s areas of expertise, such as fintech and data science, grow in size and global stature.
“EU nationals were previously treated the same as applicants from the UK.
“I think Scotland has always benefited from collaboration and any reduction is not a good thing”
Now they have additional requirements – including sponsor licences – that could mean we have a reduced pool of talent to draw from.
“I think the full implications of Brexit for our industry will take a long time to fully understand – for example, whether the UK will choose to diverge from the direction of future travel in terms of GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation], and if additional requirements will put off EU nationals from applying for jobs here.”