East Kilbride have to settle for seventh choice stadium

East Kilbride were given their seventh-choice venue for their home William Hill Scottish Cup clash with Celtic.

The Scottish Football Association has clarified the reason for New Douglas Park being chosen to stage the Lowland League club's fifth-round tie - rules dictate that the nearest stadium is utilised if the home team's ground is not suitable.

New Douglas Park, which seats around 6,000 fans, is seven miles from K-Park and closer than any other senior ground.

East Kilbride wanted to stage their historic tie, which will be televised live by BBC Scotland on February 7, at their 500-capacity K-Park home and Hamilton's ground was beneath Hampden, Celtic Park, Broadwood, Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium and Firhill in the club's list of potential alternatives.

The SFA announced New Douglas Park as the venue immediately after East Kilbride's fourth-round win over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale on Wednesday night. The development appeared to take the club by surprise and they asked the governing body for clarification over the rationale.

An SFA statement read: "The decision regarding the choice of venue was taken in accordance with the terms of Scottish Cup competition rule 13.... on the basis that the Scottish FA had been advised by Police Scotland that this tie could not proceed at K-Park Training Academy on the grounds of spectator safety and security - a view shared by the association's administration.

"This matter was discussed at a meeting at K-Park on January 14, attended by the East Kilbride chairman, Mark Horner."

The SFA confirmed it had received East Kilbride's list of venue preferences on Tuesday.

The statement added: "On Wednesday, January 20, on the basis of rule 13, the decision of the Scottish FA board was communicated to the club by email and confirmed as remaining under embargo until the conclusion of Wednesday evening's tie against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale."

Rule 13 states that ties will be played at the "nearest registered ground of at least equivalent capacity which in the opinion of the (SFA) board is most suitable for the occasion" if a home team's stadium cannot be used.