Scottish FA To Decide On Future Of Hampden Park By Christmas

The Scottish FA plans to "reach a decision on the future of Hampden as Scotland's national stadium by Christmas," according to  Stephen McGowan of the London DAILY MAIL. The "spiritual home" of Scottish football hosts a "critical" World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Thursday night, with Manager Gordon Strachan describing the old arena as a "special place." Hampden's status as the venue for internationals and cup finals "is under threat," however, after the SFA wrote last month to clubs, the Scottish Professional Football League, the Scottish government and Professional Footballers' Association Scotland "canvassing opinions on the stadium's value" when the current lease ends in '20. The SFA has until March "to take up an option" renewing its existing lease for another 20 years. Concerned by the "high cost of maintaining and running a stadium owned by amateurs Queen's Park," clubs have offered a "muted response" to the idea of retaining a stadium used for internationals since 1903 (DAILY MAIL, 10/5).