By Ananova

Scotland and Ireland's hopes of using St James' Park to boost their Euro 2008 bid have been rejected by Newcastle United.
FA chief executive Adam Crozier made the gesture to SFA counterpart David Taylor after the Scots joined forces with the Irish FA to stage the world's third biggest sporting event.
The Premiership club, however, have told Hampden Park chiefs that the notion was a non-starter.
Newcastle's chief operating officer Russell Cushing said: "I have spoken with the Scottish Football Association and I can categorically state that the SFA say St James' Park will not play a part in any Euro 2008 tournament bid.
"The rumour has become so real that even Adam Crozier, chief executive of the English FA has hinted it.
"I know the Scots stick together, but you have got to draw the line somewhere. This puts the matter to rest for once and for all."
Scotland already have four top stadia in Hampden Park, Murrayfield, Parkhead and Ibrox, but need another two to go with two proposed stadia from Ireland - which will include a refurbished Lansdowne Road.
A newly-built arena in Dundee, Aberdeen's Pittodrie ground and Hibernian's Easter Road are all in the running, and the use of St James' Park would have needed clearance from Uefa.


-- Anonymous, January 27, 2002

Answers

AP

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2002

That was the gist of the club statement put on the official site last Friday afternoon, including the rather amateurish: "This puts the matter to rest once and for all."

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Can someone explain this refusal to me? Should the Scotland bid go through any matches held at SJP would have brought large amounts of revenue to the city and raised the profile of the stadium.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

I was thinking the same thing Steve. Maybe because the Euro '96 games weren't sell outs they feel they won't make anything from it. But surely if England qualified it would be a natural base for them and it would keep the wee sasanacks out of bonnie Scotland. It would also guarantee sell out crowds.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

The club statement last Friday afternoon leaves open a few questions:

a) Was it the SFA who ruled out using an English ground? b) If not, did the SFA ever approach the club about using SJP? b) If they did, what was the club's view? Who said no and why?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

...and z)....

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

So, apart from Lansdowne Road's rugby pitch, where else does the FAI propose for a suitable ground? Derry City's Brandywell stadium?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Croke Park I would guess.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Hahaha you think the GAA would allow football to be played there? not even if it was an IRA fundraiser.....

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

LOL Gav.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

There;s been talk of a national football stadium being built in Dublin for a few years. Not sure where it stands now. The Dublin council are about as much use as Newcastle when it comes to giving planning permission. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002