Renfrewshire Council urged to play part in future of St Mirren FC

Jun 26 2012 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

A FOOTBALL-crazy politician is calling on Renfrewshire Council to consider launching its own takeover bid for St Mirren Football Club.

Councillor Brian Lawson, right, who has been a Saints season ticket holder for the last 30 years, wants the local authority to carry out a feasibility study into a deal to snap up a 52 per cent controlling stake in the Paisley club which is being sold for £1.5million by chairman Stewart Gilmour and four other directors.

His radical plan would see the council become the club’s majority shareholder, with revenue then being generated for the public purse through the hiring out of facilities such as the leisure pitches at St Mirren Park and the training base in Ralston.

Mr Lawson has also stressed that the council would “keep its nose out” of football operations at Saints – but would be represented on the club’s board of directors.

The SNP man admits his proposals – which are set to be discussed at a council meeting on Thursday – may be red-carded by the ruling Labour administration but he insists it would be a worthwhile exercise to at least have a proper look at them.

He told the Paisley Daily Express: “I realise that councils are not normally in the business of running football clubs but this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us.

“St Mirren is a debt-free club which has great facilities and it wouldn’t cost the council anything to have a wee look at this.”