Anderton open to SRU return

Phil Anderton would be “delighted” to return as chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union if David Mackay is reinstated as chairman and the warring factions resolve their differences.

Anderton cites the general committee’s vote of no confidence in Mackay, which led to his resignation, and the fight for power within Murrayfield’s corridors as reasons for quitting yesterday.

Anderton enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Mackay and fully endorsed his plans for a radical restructuring of the game, which were due to go to a vote at a special general meeting on January 30.

However, Anderton also insists the makeup of the governing body would have to change as the crisis that engulfs Scottish rugby reaches new heights.

He said: “If the appropriate structures are put in place and David Mackay was reinstated, if I was asked to come back, I would be delighted to come back to work for Scottish rugby.

“Structure is the most important thing but clearly, I feel very aggrieved David Mackay’s reputation has been tarnished. His reappointment would send a very clear signal that Scottish rugby is back on track.”

Asked if he thought Mackay would accept an offer to return to his post as chairman, Anderton added: “I can’t speak on behalf of David, you would have to ask David that.

“But I know that David MacKay has always had the best interests of Scottish rugby at heart and I know that he believes he has unfinished business.”

Anderton also warns Scottish rugby risks losing essential funding and investment if the crisis is not dealt with quickly.

He added: “I feel that, with his removal, any chance Scottish rugby thinks it may have of trying to encourage investment has significantly diminished.

“It is not just from clubs, I have had calls from businesses, public bodies that provide funding, sponsors threatening to pull out, prospective sponsors who have pulled out, people saying that they are going to boycott games and players threatening strike action.

“I think the people that have made this decision have badly miscalculated and they really need to understand they have made a decision that is working against the interests of Scottish rugby.”