Last updated : 18 September 2002 By Ed_ScottishFitba
UEFA inspection team members Stephanie Theinz and Mike Lee (right) get the treatment from SFA bid press officer Simon Lyons as they leave Dundee city chambers
The start of the Scottish part of the UEFA delegation tour of Scotland allowed them to consider the sites for the two grounds which do not exist. Added to viewing the Stadium Ireland site, perhaps not the best way to impress the officials from UEFA. However, once the tour moves off today (Wednesday) and see the four grounds that are in place (Hampden, Parkhead, Ibrox and Murrayfield) they may think things are not so bad after all. The seven-strong delegation will be spending three days looking at what Scotland has to offer. The helicopter carrying the delegates to Aberdeen was met by Aberdeen chief executive, Keith Wyness.
Brendan Menton, Secretary of FAI, Mike Lee, Director of Communications for UEFA, David Taylor, Chairman of the Bid Committee and John Henderson, SFA EURO2008 Bid Director
The club are planning to build a new ground in the Kingswells area of the city and the delegates were greeted by a small band of protesters against the plan. Wyness dismissed the group as being in the minority and said: "Today is very important for us. You can't win the bid but you can lose it if we don't do the right things. It is important we show the reality of Aberdeen and Dundee and not just some of the perceptions of the UEFA delegates might have. We have to put our best foot forward and show we are the best place for the UEFA showpiece of 2008."
The inspection team moved onto Dundee where they had a chance to meet with members of the Tartan Army to hear what the fans had to say. Today, the team will have a chance to see what the home of Scottish rugby, Murrayfield, looks like as a football venue. They will then link up with First Minister Jack McConnell to hear what support can be provided from the government. They will leave the trip to the national stadium at Hampden till Thursday.
