Murray makes Hampden proposal

Rangers chairman David Murray believes Fir Park’s postponed matches should be switched to Hampden Park.

Motherwell’s home stadium is unlikely to be available for the next three to four weeks while the club look to address the drainage problem which caused yesterday’s Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League match against Celtic to be postponed – and has repeatedly posed a problem this year.

Celtic are due to face Motherwell’s tenants Gretna at Fir Park next Sunday, but a neutral venue will almost certainly need to be found for that fixture.

Celtic have offered to host it, but that appears an unrealistic option - because it could be perceived as an advantage to Gordon Strachan’s side to have the game played at Parkhead.

Rangers still have to face Motherwell at Fir Park this season, but Murray accepts relocating the game to Ibrox would be a controversial move.

“That’s one option, but to me the easy option is to come and play the games at Hampden,” Murray told BBC Radio Scotland.

“We all collectively have a share in Hampden. It lies empty most weeks so why is the pitch not used here.

“It’s fair, it’s equitable, nobody should be disadvantaged or advantaged by Gretna’s problems .

“I think we should play any games which cannot be handled (at Fir Park) here, and I’m sure the financial side of it would be handled to suit everybody.”

Motherwell chairman John Boyle will bring in independent experts tomorrow to assess the state of the Fir Park pitch, and to advise him on the best course of action to provide a short-term fix.

However there seems little chance of Motherwell or Gretna playing any home matches at the stadium before the SPL split early next month.

That would necessitate rearranging games for neutral venues in the coming weeks, providing a logistical nightmare.

The club are set to dig up the pitch in the summer and start again, in what is sure to be a high-cost exercise.

The Scottish Premier League will meet to consider the situation, and will await confirmation from Gretna that the stadium will have to be closed.

Murray’s proposal for Hampden to stage the games will be one of the options the SPL would consider.

However Queen’s Park have fixtures to fulfil at their home ground, and with a Scotland friendly against Croatia on March 26 and the Scottish Cup final on May 24 to come, the Scottish Football Association may express some concern about additional games being played on the pitch.

Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park or St Mirren’s Love Street ground could also be viable temporary homes for Motherwell and Gretna.

Gretna are desperate to ensure the Celtic game goes ahead next week, as receipts from the fixture would prop up their finances and allow players and club staff to be paid.