Council hits back at Cram claim

Cram enjoyed success at Meadowbank Stadium

Edinburgh City Council has defended itself after ex-athlete Steve Cram lamented the closure of Meadowbank Stadium's running track.

Former world 1500m champion Cram criticised plans to demolish the old stadium and replace it with a new, smaller arena.

But a council spokesman said: "It's not the case that the a facility will be lost but rather replaced.

"It'll be a modern sports complex that will meet high sporting standards."

Under the council's plans, the 16,000 seater stadium will be replaced with a 5,000 capacity arena, and some of the land will be sold to housing developers.

I think there's a really good crop of youngsters up here now Steve Cram

"Councillors have also made a commitment to retain an athletics track at Meadowbank so there should be no concern there," the spokesman added.

"We are now going through a process of looking in depth at how best to develop the new facilities.

"A report on this is due in October of this year."

Cram had said he would be disappointed if Meadowbank was consigned to the past.

"It's always a shame when something like that is lost," he told BBC Sport.

"We can't really afford to lose sport facilities, especially in the middle of big cities."

Cram won both the 1500m and 800m Commonwealth gold medals at the Edinburgh Stadium in 1986 and hopes if it is to close, there will be investment in replacements.

"Ok, it's seen better days but we need to continue to invest in places and make sure they're of a certain level of standard," he added.

"Then, hopefully, young people will want to go there and take part in sport."

Cram - speaking ahead of this weekend's World Cross Country championships - also says though that Scottish Athletics has a bright future.

"I think there's a really good crop of youngsters up here now, they're doing well on the British scene, not just up here" he said.

"One or two will be doing there thing here in Edinburgh at the weekend and rubbing shoulders with some of the best athletes in the world.

"Hopefully that will inspire them as there's definitely a lot of talent coming through in Scotland."