Fans vote to take big matches away from Hampden

A SURVEY has revealed only 15 per cent of fans want Scotland games and cup finals to stay at Hampden.

The damning verdict comes as the SFA consider quitting the National Stadium when its lease expires in 2020.

The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) carried out a survey of just under 3000 of its members and found only a

sixth wanted to see major internationals and cup finals staged at Hampden.

Another 25 per cent called for major matches to be taken on the road around the country.

Just over half of the supporters rate the overall experience of Hampden – which is owned by Queen’s Park – as “bad or very bad”. SFSA chairman Simon Barrow said: “The results of the research is concerning. Clearly the status quo is not working. We believe a full independent consultation should be conducted before any future decisions are made about Hampden Park.

“It is too big an issue for the SFA to consider alone. It is also clear that fans themselves must be involved as key stakeholders in this decision.

“We would also be in favour of further work being done to explore the options to update and improve the current stadium.”

The SFA have already held talks with their rugby counterparts about staging showpiece fixtures at Murrayfield and that prospect

was backed by 34 per cent of the poll’s respondents.

An SFA spokesperson said: “Only when the board is presented with the full documentation will they be in a position to evaluate all options available and make a recommendation.”

Peter Dallas of Hampden Park Ltd, who manage the day-to-day running of the stadium, said: “Millions of pounds have been invested in improving the matchday experience at Hampden Park for our supporters.

“These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to ensure Scotland’s national stadium retains its reputation as a worldclass football and events arena.”

Meanwhile, the SFA have joined forces with their Irish FA and Welsh counterparts by appointing global company IMG to find the three nations a headline sponsor.

Vauxhall had been sponsoring all four home countries, including England, since 2011 but their deal ends after next year’s World Cup finals and they won’t be renewing it.

Now IMG have been tasked to come up with a partner for the men’s, women’s, Under-21 and youth teams of the Scots, Northern Irish and Welsh FAs.

The plan is that any partnerships would run from the new 2018 UEFA Nations League through qualifying and the finals of the Euro 2020 tournament as well as the qualifiers and finals of World Cup 2022 in Qatar.