Ayr United look for rules re-think

Dec 19 2008 by Mike Wilson

For Peat’s sake!

AYR UNITED want the Scottish Cup rules re-written to prevent a repeat of their Lochee debacle.

The five times postponed tie was finally set to go ahead at Wednesday lunchtime before only a fraction of the crowd originally expected.

Exasperated chairman Lachlan Cameron has written to SFA president George Peat begging for a cup re-think.

He hit out: “This has been a no win situation for everybody. Lochee have missed out on a big crowd, both teams have struggled to get players off work while fans have been denied the chance to see their teams in the cup.

“The SFA claim they are preserving the romance of the cup but where is the romance of a game played at 1.30pm in midweek and missed by so many supporters? I have contacted the SFA asking them to look at the rules for next year.”

The United chief wants to know why Lochee could not switch from Thomson Park when both Dundee senior clubs had offered their grounds. Yet if they made the fourth round, they would have been free to do so.

He added: “I spoke to chief executive Gordon Smith who was very sympathetic but he is hamstrung by the rules. If things can’t be changed this season hopefully we can all learn from the experience for next time.

“I can’t believe we are being asked to play a professional game at 1.30pm a week before the winter solstace. It defies logic.”

Smith told the Post that moves would be taken to avoid a repeat of the damaging fiasco. But the Hampden rule book had prevented calls this season for the tie to be switched to the undersoil heating of Dens Park and Tannadice.

Smith said: “A tie can only be changed to a stadium of a similar capacity so that rules out Dens and Tannadice. We have been hit this season by an unforseen set of circumstances and I agree it’s very tough and not ideal.

“However, I don’t agree that it has devalued the cup but we will look closely at the regulations in place as we have never had the scenario before.”

By SFA guidance, Ayr had this week to get tickets printed for the potential fourth round clash at home to Kilmarnock on January 10, even before the Lochee tie had been settled.

The tie would have an all ticket capacity of 10,185 with Killie allocated 3,325. First sale will be on Boxing Day from 12 noon to 4pm and be restricted to season ticket holders, supporters’ club members and lottery agents. They will get another chance on Saturday December 27 from 9am to noon. Four tickets per person.

Fans attending the game against Queen’s Park that day will be issued with vouchers and there will be a general sale from 5-8pm for voucher holders.