SRU staff face jobs axe amid cost-cutting

Published on Monday 12 January 2009 09:13

A SHAKE-UP is underway within Scottish Rugby's administration with many staff having to re-apply for their jobs.

Some posts are to be axed, it has been confirmed, but at the same time Dominic McKay, director of communications at the Murrayfield-based organisation, insists others are being created.

The move comes amidst claims that cost-cutting measures have had to be implemented due to attendances for the Autumn Tests, notably against New Zealand and South Africa, falling below the level anticipated.

Similarly, there are reported concerns that uptake of corporate hospitality packages has been slow.

McKay said: "We published a new strategic plan last year and are working to realign the structure of the union with that plan. As part of that some jobs are going and some are being created.

"We do not expect to end up employing a significantly different number of people."

Where some comfort for Scottish Rugby may lie is in the fact that they do not have to finance a tour for Scotland this summer. On the contrary a significant windfall is expected from the forthcoming British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Also, several lucrative sponsorship deals still have a distance to run as do broadcasting contracts.

However, today's revelations come at a time when both centrally-run professional teams are beginning to look ahead to next season and strengthening their squads.

A few days ago Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson revealed that dialogue was talking place involving the SRU with a view to bringing Test centre Rob Dewey back to Scotland from Ulster – either to the Capital or Glasgow.

Indications are that budgets will be similar to the 8 million presently allocated.