‘IT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD’

Next generation have ‘no excuses’ now we have state-of-the-art Oriam training complex

ON Thursday, Gordon Strachan was treated to his first look at the completed Oriam facility, the new £33million performance centre custom built to enhance the Scottish national team’s chances of qualifying for major tournaments.

Just as the English FA have a plush base in the form of St George’s Park, Oriam — which translates as gold in Gaelic — is Scotland’s answer, a high-spec training base built round a stunning indoor hall housing a state-ofthe-art 3G pitch.

Commissioned in the wake of Henry McLeish’s review of Scottish football and situated next door to the existing training facility utilised by Hearts at Heriot-Watt University, the Edinburgh development will also service the Scottish rugby team and other sports, including basketball, handball and netball.

According to Oriam chief executive Catriona McAllister, her SFA counterpart has already set the benchmark for success.

‘Stewart Regan has said he wants Oriam to be a catalyst for qualifying for the next major tournament,’ she said.

‘The next World Cup may be too soon given they probably won’t move here until halfway through that campaign, but getting to the stage where we are qualifying regularly is what this is all about.

‘We’re only one part of that jigsaw. A lot of other things have to happen around Scottish football for that to happen.

‘What I want is to produce a facility that is world-class standard whenever they need it.’

Although the SRU have signed a 25-year contract binding them to the centre, the SFA are taking longer to come on board.

The same quartercentury commitment is in the pipeline. Strachan (below) has postponed his squad’s flit to the facility until construction of an on-site hotel is completed, currently estimated at mid-2017.

Then there is simple geography. Key to the success of the Heriot Watt bid was the cooperation of the SRU but, while Riccarton may be handy for Murrayfield, a trip along the M8 to reach Glasgow in good time for a midweek winter qualifier presents clear difficulties. So while Strachan’s side may do the bulk of their game preparation at Oriam, the night before they will base themselves closer to Hampden. Strachan will tomorrow name his squad for the opening World Cup qualifier against Malta for which the squad will revert to its Renfrewshire base before flying out the day before the game.

McAllister is confident Oriam will not only eclipse Mar Hall but stack up favourably against the facilities enjoyed by the squad’s top players at club level.

‘The indoor facilities are far superior to any of the Premier League training grounds,’ she said.