Press Release
23rd May 2000
Morton Fans to Lobby Parliament
Supporters of Morton FC will take their case to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 25th May, where they will lobby MSPs in a bid to raise awareness of the problems facing the club.
They fear that the days of the Cappielow side may be numbered.
The fans will stage a lobby outside the Parliament Chamber, before holding a press conference in the Parliamentary Buildings. Afterwards, they will meet MSPs from all sides of the Parliament directly to discuss how the Parliament can assist. (For full itinerary, please see below.)
Local MSP, Duncan McNeil, is helping the fans get the message across by organising Thursday’s lobby. He has also tabled a Parliamentary motion, calling on his fellow MSPs to acknowledge that to lose a community asset such as Morton would deal a blow, not only to Morton supporters, but to the whole community. The motion also seeks recognition that proposals such as community ownership and increased rights for supporters in the running of their teams, offer the best opportunity for securing the long-term future of local clubs and promoting links between them and the communities they serve.
Commenting on the planned lobby, Mr McNeil said:
"The season may be over – but the campaign continues.
"This is about much more than 90 minutes on the park on a Saturday. This is about what local clubs such as Morton give to their communities.
"When we debated the role of sport in tackling social exclusion, we heard time and again that sport can be a major player in the fight against social disadvantage. And having a local football team gives us a head start.
"Losing such a valuable community asset would deal a severe blow to our community.
"That is why we are holding this lobby. We need to raise awareness of the problems and generate genuine, honest dialogue. The mistrust between club and fan must be overcome.
"To this end, the fans are asking MSPs to write to the SFA and the SFL, asking them to do everything in their power to stop a community asset being lost for ever."
One of the fans who will be present at Thursday’s demonstration, Jim McColl, said:
"We, as fans, are concerned that a club which has been a community asset for 126 years is threatened with closure by its majority shareholder. Not because it is insolvent. Not because it is bankrupt. But because relations between the fans and the majority shareholder are, in Mr Scott’s own words, ‘non-existent’."
"It could be closed just because a businessman has lost interest in his hobby," added lifelong supporter, Charlie Kavanagh.
Also attending the press conference will be Tony Higgins, Secretary of the Scottish Professional Footballers Association. Commenting on the event, Mr Higgins said:
"The vast majority of Scottish clubs are community clubs and play a significant role in the life of that community.
"When you look at the impact Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s result against Celtic in the Cup had on that community, you realise the importance of having a local football team."
The Full Itinerary is:
Thursday 25th May 2000
11:00 PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Fans lobby outside Scottish Parliament debating chamber.
11:30 PRESS CONFERENCE
Room 6, House 3,Scottish Parliament (India Street, Glasgow)
12:30 MSP BRIEFING SESSION
Room 3, House 3, Scottish Parliament (India Street, Glasgow)
ENDS
Background Notes:
The full text of the motion tabled today by Mr McNeil reads:
That the Parliament recognises that football plays an important part in our social culture and sporting life; recognises the important contribution made by local football clubs to the communities in which they are based; expresses concern over recent reports of developments at Greenock Morton Football Club; acknowledges that to lose a community asset such as Greenock Morton would be detrimental, not only to Morton supporters, but to the area as a whole; and recognises that proposals such as community ownership and increased rights for supporters in the running of their teams offer the best opportunity for securing the long-term future of local clubs and promoting links between them and the communities they serve.
The panel at the press conference will include: Duncan McNeil (MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde); Tony Higgins (Secretary, SPFA); Cllr Robert Jackson (Leader, Inverclyde Council); and Jim McColl (Fans’ Representative).
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