PFA Scotland backs decision to keep national team at Hampden
The Scottish FA chose to stay at the current national stadium rather than move to Murrayfield
Last updated 12th Sep 2018
Scotland's players' union has welcomed the ongoing chance for its members to achieve their dream of playing at Hampden.
The national stadium's future has been secured by a ÂŁ5million deal which will see the Scottish Football Association assume ownership from Queen's Park.
The future of the Glasgow ground and Scotland's oldest football club was in jeopardy as the Scottish Football Association considered a move to BT Murrayfield once the current lease expires in 2020.
But PFA Scotland was "delighted'' to hear that the SFA was staying at Hampden after the union's management committee delivered its backing for the stadium in writing and during talks with the governing body.
Chief executive Fraser Wishart said in a statement: "There was genuine concern expressed for the future of all staff currently employed in many guises at Hampden should the Scottish FA move its offices to a different location.
"Moreover, members feared for the future of Queens Park as a football club - from the players to the excellent youth development and community programmes as well as the staff.
"The management committee also considered that playing at Hampden is still something to aspire to for most professional footballers.
"They felt that many players, including committee members, have not been fortunate enough to have played at the national stadium yet still hoped to do so at some stage in their career.
"For those playing at a higher level, reaching and playing in a cup final or playing for their country at Hampden Park is viewed as an honour, both by Scottish players and those representing other countries.
"In addition, the management committee believed that having Hampden as a base gives Scottish football a worldwide identity that would have been lost should the Scottish FA have relocated. It would have been counterproductive had the history and tradition of Hampden simply have been thrown away.'
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