SRU gets tough in Edinburgh row

It is a result of Edinburgh terminating the franchise agreement with the SRU, the governing body has claimed.

A statement from the SRU concluded: "Consequently, Edinburgh Rugby no longer have any rights to play or train at Murrayfield.

"And Scottish Rugby has asked when they plan to vacate the stadium."

SRU sources have told BBC Sport that they have received notice from Edinburgh's lawyers that the club is to terminate its agreement.

And they claim that Edinburgh player contracts were transferred to a company in the Cayman Islands a month ago.

The SRU has now served an eviction notice on the club and demanded part of their loan be returned.

"Scottish Rugby has confirmed today that the operating agreement between Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Rugby has been terminated by Edinburgh Rugby," said the statement.

"As a consequence of Edinburgh Rugby's termination of the operating agreement, Scottish Rugby now requires immediate repayment of a proportion of the funding the governing body has advanced Edinburgh Rugby since July 2006.

"The deadline for this repayment, which amounts to almost ?1.4m, is close of business on Friday 3 August 2007.

"Scottish Rugby can also confirm that with immediate effect it has withdrawn from making any future funding available to Edinburgh Rugby, following their breach of the operating agreement.

"Despite further efforts being made by Scottish Rugby this week to achieve an acceptable outcome to the dispute in the best interests of the sport, Scottish Rugby now confirms that, regrettably, these actions have had to be taken."

Edinburgh franchise holder Bob Carruthers has, meanwhile, offered to hand the club back to the SRU - if it refunds all his investment.

The club and governing body are in a dispute over funds that has led Edinburgh to threaten court action.

Carruthers says that can be avoided but stressed: "Pay us back what we have put into the game and we will go.

"I am coming to the position that it is untenable to be an independent club here in Scotland."

Carruthers and brother Alex took control of the club in July 2006.

They claim that the SRU owes them money from Magners League and Heineken Cup fees from last season.

Now they want full reimbursement of the money they have invested in the capital club should the SRU wish to take back control.

The dispute with Edinburgh escalated when the club withdrew their 12 Scotland internationals from a week of World Cup training last month.

"Really, unless you are 100% behind the SRU and they are 100% behind you, you are wasting your time because they can make life so awkward that it is untenable," Carruthers added.

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