ED TO ED

HEARTS and Hibs last night joined forces and begged that their Scottish Cup semi-final should be played at Murrayfield.

Tynecastle skipper Steven Pressley insisted the match, sure to be one of the biggest in the history of this great rivalry, must be switched to the Edinburgh stadium.

This sentiment was backed by chairman of the Hibs supporters association, Bill Alcorn, who was adamant the 67,500-capacity home of rugby had to be used because it was big enough to host the game.

Hampden has a capacity of 52,000 and far more supporters than that will want to attend what should be one of the most memorable semi-finals in the history of the Scottish Cup when it takes place on the weekend of April 1.

Jambos captain Pressley said: "We don't yet know whether the game will be played on Saturday or Sunday but one thing I do hope is for the chance to move the semi-final from Hampden to Murrayfield.

"There are so many good reasons for doing so. For a start, Murrayfield holds about 70,000 and it would see out for an Edinburgh derby Scottish Cup semi-final - noproblem.

"That means 20,000 more fans could get to see the game than if it were played at Hampden.

"We are in the business of encouraging as many people as possible through the turnstiles so from a financial point of view it makes sense. Then there are the logistics. If the game was played at Hampden there would be the prospect of 50,000 fans travelling along the M8 and into Glasgow. The policing problems would be obvious.

"I think it would create far more problems than if the match were to take place in Edinburgh."

And from a Hibs perspective, fans chief Alcorn agreed with the Hearts captain.

He said: "If it is at all possible, the game should be played at Murrayfield for two reasons. It is the only stadium in the country which could hold the match and obviously it is also in Edinburgh and that would avoid so many Hibs and Hearts fans travelling through to Glasgow with all the problems that may arise.

"I'm sure the Glasgow police would back this move.

"I can understand why people would want the game to be played at Hampden if this was the final itself. Hampden is, after all, the home of Scottish football.

"But this is a semi-final and surely there is some scope to make the changes."

Meanwhile, Gretna managing director Brooks Mileson believes the Raydale Park club can harness the support of fans from both sides of the border for their semi-final against Hamilton or Dundee.

He said: "We could have sold out the quarter-final game against St Mirren at Raydale Park three times over.

"We are only a small club and this is a bit of a fairytale. I'm sure people will come and supportus - from both sides ofthe border.

"We have a realistic chance of getting to the final on the back of what we have done this season. Our fans would love to go to Hampden Park."

Taken from the Daily Record