Aberdeen signal willingness to work with SRU

STEWART Milne, the chairman of Aberdeen Football Club, has indicated that they would be willing to work with the Scottish Rugby Union if the game’s governing body decides to establish a third professional team in the North East.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne. Picture: SNS

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, raised the issue last week when he said that his company would be keen to invest in a Pro12 side to complement the existing two in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

While Aberdeen FC are not thought to be interested in sharing a stadium, primarily because there would be too much pressure on the pitch, Milne said that he would be glad to discuss matters of potential benefit to both organisations.

“If they [in rugby] are serious about doing something up here, the club would be more than happy to embark on discussions with them to see what common ground there might be,” he said.

Aberdeen’s long-term plan is to move out of Pittodrie and build a new home elsewhere. Their ambition is also to have purpose-built training facilities of their own, which could be of interest to a new rugby team.