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Rugby Union

SRU takes control at Edinburgh

10/08/2007

The Scottish Rugby Football Union (SRU) has taken control of affairs at troubled club Edinburgh, and former owner Bob Carruthers has left along with first-team coach Lyn Howells.

The reshuffle in the capital represents the latest stage of the ongoing battle between the SRU and the club who fell out over alleged unpaid roaylties from European competition last season.

And it sees Murrayfield Sport and Leisure, the holding company formerly in charge of the team, terminate its agreements with the sport's governing body in Scotland and relinquish control.

It ensures professional rugby will continue to be played in the city but without Carruthers, Howell or former managing director Dean Lewis.

Henry Edwards, Scottish Rugby's head of player development, will act as the team's interim head coach as the SRU seeks to establish a new regime at the club.

A joint statement from the parties involved, released today, read: "To facilitate the transaction, Scottish Rugby has agreed to make a settlement to Murrayfield Sport and Leisure to terminate that company’s future right to be the exclusive concert promoter at the national stadium.

"And a further sum will be paid to facilitate the transfer of the goodwill and undertaking of Edinburgh Rugby to Scottish Rugby.

"Agreement was also reached on the clear understanding that Murrayfield Sport and Leisure and Edinburgh Rugby will use the settlement figure to discharge all remaining liabilities of those companies."

Commenting on the announcement, Scottish Rugby's chief executive Gordon McKie said: "This has been a challenging period for all concerned and after many months of protracted and often difficult negotiations, we have arrived at a solution both parties can live with."

He also said there would be "minimal disruption" to players' training schedules and that the new agreement is "in the best long-term interests of the game".

"We also look forward to rebuilding the vitally important relationship with the team's many loyal supporters and we are seeking a meeting with them in the immediate future," McKie added.

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