Exclusive: SRU chief Gordon McKie to leave post

GORDON McKie, chief executive of Scottish Rugby, is to leave his post at the close of business today, the Evening News has learned.

• Gordon McKie joined the SRU in 2005

We can reveal that internal feuding - denied by the SRU when attacking "unhelpful" media speculation last week - is poised to claim a key figure in the organisation.

The SRU's official spokesman said: "We would not confirm or deny anything at this stage."

It is not yet known if Mr McKie will be resigning or has been forced to quit.

An accountant by profession, Mr McKie joined the SRU in 2005 with a reputation for restoring ailing companies to health.

However, he has remained much longer than many imagined while having some success in reducing overall debt.

Recently Mr McKie has come under serious attack for an allegedly heavy-handed and abrasive approach.

Much of the criticism has come from supporters upset at policies which included refusing to sell international match tickets on the day, scrapping the popular car park picnicking at Murrayfield and banishing Edinburgh fans from a traditional after-match hospitality suite to protect a newly-laid carpet designed mainly for use by hospitality guests.

There was also much dissatisfaction at the way in which former Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat was removed a few months ago.

When McKie arrived at the SRU, it was believed the overdraft had reached 20 million and the debt had reached around 25 million.

Today the overdraft is down to approximately 15 million.