MX23RW : Tuesday, June 1 20:05:28| >> :120:13973:13973:

SFA chief wants to see 'regular' Scotland qualifications for major tournaments

SFA chief wants to see 'regular' Scotland qualifications for major tournaments
© Reuters
Scotland will play the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden Park, with a trip to Wembley to play England in between.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell wants Euro 2020 qualification to be the start of regular appearances in major finals for Scotland.

The Scots will soon be preparing for summer tournament football for the first time since the 1998 World Cup finals in France and will play the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden Park, with a trip to Wembley to play England in between.

Maxwell was speaking on the day that the SFA published 'The Power of Football', the first part of a strategic plan designed to improve the national game at all levels up to and including the World Cup in 2030.

With a nod to the 23 years since Scotland's men's side have been to a finals, and the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he said: "The women's A squad have done fantastically well to qualify for the World Cup and the Euros and unfortunately just missed out on the most recent one.

"We want to get them back qualifying as regularly as we can and everyone sees the bonus of having the Euros at Hampden and the men's team qualifying for that.

"We need to make sure that is happening at the men's level in particular, every 23 months rather than 23 years.

"A fundamental objective is that alongside the clubs, we are developing international quality players and that has to be our aim and that will obviously help drive success at men's A squad, but also throughout the youth age groups in both men and women's football."

One of the six key pillars identified is the modernisation of Hampden Park.

Maxwell revealed the remit is widespread, including the idea of a fight for Josh Taylor, who became Britain's first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era by defeating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.

He said: "Everything is on the agenda. I think it is fair to say that we are looking at the stadium primarily as a football venue, we also need to think about it in a wider events context, what events that would drive revenue.

"Mike Tyson fought there before and we obviously have Josh Taylor who did fantastically well at the weekend and the opportunity for him to fight in a capacity Hampden is one that everybody would look forward to.

"We need to keep everything on the table and be as open as we can as to how we can develop it into the best it can be.

"Sodexo, our stadium partner, are looking at kiosks and hospitality suites and what we can do to make the experience better when the supporters are there.

Hampden Park will host two of Scotland's group games at Euro 2020
Hampden Park will host two of Scotland's group games at Euro 2020 (Jeff Holmes/PA)

"Hampden gets a bit of a bad reputation but I think that is just a bit of narrative that has started to develop.

"When you go round Europe to the games, Hampden is far from the worst stadium that we are ever in.

"We have the World Cup 2030 bid and obviously we are in a feasibility process with that and can we leverage that to look at the infrastructure and the layout of the stadium.

"Obviously we have the transport issues and links to and from the stadium, we need to work with partners to make sure people can get in and out as straightforwardly as possible.

"So there is a lot to do. It is a big challenge and part of the reason for purchasing the stadium is the opportunity it gives us and now we need to drive that forward."

ID:448897: cacheID:448897:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7160:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Scotland manager Steve Clarke pictured on November 15, 2020
Read Next:
David Turnbull determined to seize Euro 2020 chance with Scotland
>
Read more about Ian Maxwell Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
International Friendlies
International Friendlies
NIFL Premiership
World Cup Qualifying - North Central America
Australian A-League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!