‘Community stadiums have been success’

the idea of the council throwing in its lot with Hearts as partners in the building of a new “community football stadium” won’t be universally popular in the Capital.

City leaders are stressing that the local authority is in no position to sink millions of pounds into the project even if it wanted to do so.

The help it is likely to be able to offer should it team up with the Jambos is in providing land.

Sighthill Park is the obvious location, having previously been deemed suitable by the council for a multi-purpose sports stadium, and being one of the few locations that will be served by the tram. Should the park be earmarked again there will be local protests.

And there will be mutterings from many Hibs fans who will recall past perceived injustices their club suffered at the hands of the local authority.

But we shouldn’t forget that just weeks ago the council was being accused of anti-Hearts bias over its handling of the club’s plans for improvements at Tynecastle.

City leaders must stay focused on the bigger picture. Community stadiums have proved a huge success in other parts of the UK and one here could potentially provide first-class facilities for Edinburgh Rugby and other sports.

There are many possible pitfalls that need to be explored, but the potential gains mean this is an idea that has to be explored.

Firm future

TODAY the Evening News is launching a competition, with the backing of one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Tom Farmer, to help the brightest and best new businesses in Edinburgh.

At a time when small to medium-sized businesses are struggling to grow as the economy falters, and banks are still reluctant to invest, we are stepping in to lend a helping hand.

After all, it will be the young firms, launched by the brave and the bold in the last three years, who will ultimately be at the forefront of the economic success of the city in years to come, creating new jobs and opportunities for others. So to give them a boost, we’re offering them the chance to pitch their case to us and Sir Tom in a bid to win business mentoring and even free advertising with the News.

There’s even the potential to win advice from Dragons’ Den judge Deborah Meaden.

Sir Tom wants Edinburgh’s small firms to succeed. We too want to play our part in helping boost our city’s economy. Enter today.