pounds 23m grant for Hampden

Scottish Football

Scottish Football

Hampden Park was yesterday handed a pounds 23m Millennium Commission grant towards the pounds 51m redevelopment of Scotland's national stadium.

The ground's traditional south stand is to be demolished and replaced by a 16,000 state-of-the-art stand by 1998. It will raise the capacity to 52,000 and will include a museum, media centre and sports injury clinic. Hampden will then be given five-star Uefa status and so be eligible to stage European finals.

Victory for Celtic today against struggling Falkirk at Parkhead would give Tommy Burns' side their 12th in the league, beating last season's total of 11 wins. Celtic are four points behind Rangers, who do not play until Tuesday, when they meet Motherwell at Fir Park in a televised game.