Hampden is venue for derby clash

THE Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final between Kilmarnock and Ayr United will take place at Hampden, with the Scottish Football League last night confirming that both last-four ties will be held at the national stadium.

The Ayrshire derby will go ahead on Saturday 28 January, with a 1pm kick-off, while the other semi-final between Falkirk and Celtic will take place at Hampden the following day at 3pm.

When the draw was made earlier this week, Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels initially said he would prefer that his side’s much-anticipated clash with First Division Ayr went ahead in Edinburgh, at Tynecastle or Easter Road, but he retracted that yesterday.

“I have now performed a U-turn on that,” wrote Shiels in a newspaper column, “and I don’t think it is fair on both sets of supporters to deny Ayr United and Kilmarnock a chance to play at Hampden Park. Scottish football has a duty to give the supporters what they want and that is for Killie and Ayr United to have their day at the national stadium.”

It is the Falkirk-Celtic match that has been chosen for television, and it will be screened live by BBC Scotland.