Brian Kennedy offers to help SRU give pro game a lift

SALE'S Scottish owner, Brian Kennedy, has offered his help to the new SRU leadership as they bid to find a way to make professional rugby work in Scotland.

As a non-executive director with the SRU from 2005-8, Kennedy worked closely with the SRU chief executive Gordon McKie, who quit this week after six years at the helm, and chairman Allan Munro, who steps down next Saturday after six years in the post. Originally from Edinburgh, Kennedy believes they were good for the game in tightening up the finances, but agreed it was time for change.

Sir Moir Lockhead, the recently-retired chief executive of FirstGroup, will take over from Munro at next weekend's AGM and the union is hunting a new chief executive. Kennedy is not looking for a return to Murrayfield right now - though he did not rule out another board involvement at some stage if asked - but is desperate to see Scottish rugby lift itself out of the struggle to keep in sight of Munster, Leinster, the Ospreys and Cardiff.

"Gordon (McKie] did the job that was required," he said. "I've seen the figures and the SRU was definitely on the brink of going bust when he came in, which is why the bank suggested him to us at that time.

"But like a coach, Gordon had a life span and it was time for change. It's a shame these things end up acrimoniously, but it was right for Gordon to move on and the SRU to now look for a new chief executive, with creativity and entrepreneurial flair.

"Professional rugby does not turn a profit but that doesn't mean that there aren't other people like me, and the guys who run the English clubs, who don't fancy the enjoyment and challenge of developing rugby at the top level.

"If I was offered Edinburgh with its internationalists, the population and attraction the city has or Sale at this moment, I'd put my money into Edinburgh."