GLASGOW Chamber of Commerce has given its backing to the campaign to keep Hampden as the home for Scottish football.

The move comes on the eve of a crunch meeting of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) tomorrow when it discusses whether to renew the lease when it runs out in 2020 or transfer it elsewhere.

If it decides to leave Hampden, Celtic and Rangers have put in a joint bid to host international and cup final matches at Celtic Park and Ibrox.

The SFA board is also believed to be considering the option of Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

In a strongly worded letter to the SFA, Stuart Patrick, chief executive of the chamber, said Hampden was "more than a stadium" and brought tens of millions of pounds into the local economy.

Mr Patrick wrote: "It is a statement of Glasgow’s proud place as one of the world’s top sporting cities and of Scottish football’s position in the global game. It is known across the world as Scotland’s football home.

“The fact that Hampden is one of the host venues for Euro 2020 is a reminder of its world class status and capability of hosting such events and the benefits that it brings to Glasgow, and for the profile of Scottish football.

“Furthermore, the recent sell-out appearances of such popular music stars as Ed Sheeran, Beyonce and JAY-Z this summer further remind of the stadium’s appeal, flexibility and potential beyond sport."

The letter said the economic impact of Hampden was of significant value to the city and to Scotland and was "not only measured by tens of millions of pounds but also by reputation."

It said the park had forged strong links with the local community and there were 'countless' businesses, bars, cafes and restaurants in the surrounding areas which provided jobs for local people.

The chamber said Hampden played a major role in hosting the athletics and closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and that Glasgow won the award for world's best small city for hosting sporting events.

The letter said the city had delivered the 2018 European Championships - proof of its capability to deliver 'world class sorting events."

It concluded "We need a healthy and valued Hampden Park for such events in the future.

“We are writing to state our support for Hampden Park and urge the Scottish FA to ensure it remains the home of Scottish football beyond 2020."

The city council is firmly behind Hampden remaining the home of football but says more time is needed to develop a strategy.

Council leader Susan Aitken said: "We have made the SFA board aware we are prepared to commit to a football-led working group seeking to retain Hampden Park as a key sporting asset in the city.

"But the existing timescales provide limited scope for the relevant parties to come together, propose and examine whatever options may emerge from discussions on Hampden's future.

"As such we have asked them to consider amending their current decision-making timetable by a reasonable period to allow the working group to develop potential viable options."

Business leaders and sporting personalities have backed the Evening Times Save the Hampden Roar campaign launched when the SFA said it was considering ditching Hampden as the national stadium.