THE SCOTTISH FA have announced that they will remain at Hampden beyond the current lease agreement that they have in place with Queen’s Park.
They have agreed to buy the stadium from Queen’s Park for £5million with half of that sum being donated by Glasgow businessman Willie Haughey.
But Celtic skipper and former Scotland captain Scott Brown has made his feelings known about Hampden and he reckons it’s a bad decision – as usual – from the SFA to remain at the inadequate stadium.
Speaking to STV today at an event at Celtic Park, Broony said what just about every supporter thinks.
“Hampden is possibly one of the worst stadiums I have played in for atmosphere.
“For Scotland, I think we should be playing at Celtic Park, Ibrox, then the smaller games – when you only get 17,000 – should be at Hibs and Hearts.
“The bigger games could be at Murrayfield as well. We have some great stadiums here but we choose to use the wrong stadium for a football match.”
Brown isn’t convinced that the SFA’s promises to modernise the stadium will have any effect on the deep rooted problems that Hampden has.
“It’s not going to happen, they need to start that stadium all over again.
“When they built it, it was built for a running track. You’re not going to get the fans and noise that scare the opposing players when they turn up. It’s easy for them to turn up… big open pitch, hardly any fans… it’s hard for the players.
“You play at Celtic Park, Ibrox, Tynecastle… you have the atmosphere there and that’s what makes the opponents scared to come there and play.”
Last night Scotland persisted with Hampden to house a crowd of just 15,000.
The option to play the games at the various clubs grounds around the country had already been rejected by the SFA, leaving Murrayfield as the only alternative.
Given what happened at Celtic Park last week, you would have to be concerned about crowd safety for a Celtic v Rangers game at Murrayfield given Police Scotland only have rugby match plans in place.
But Hampden really needs to demolish three stands and start again, losing the running track.
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