EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, this was indeed an April Fool story, as most of you noticed straight away when we shared the story on social media. But we thought we'd keep the story on our site to give you a wee smile at the start of the week...

COULD a statue of one of Scotland’s Euro 2024 heroes be on its way to Ayr in time for the finals in Germany?

Hopeful officials are in talks to place a statue of team manager Steve Clarke in the centre of the town this summer.

Every possible site has been explored – but it is understood that the life size bronze sculpture would temporarily replace the Robert Burns statue in Burns Statue Square.

Councillors and officials are in advanced talks about the statue and where it could be sited once Scotland exit the competition.

Kyle Street outside the Ayr Central shopping centre had also been mentioned as a possible location for the monument in honour of the former St Mirren and Chelsea defender, who was born and raised in Ayrshire.

Ayr Advertiser: Scotland team boss Steve ClarkeScotland team boss Steve Clarke (Image: PA Wire)

The national team’s place at the European Championship in Germany was due in no small part to the inspirational role played by Clarke, who managed West Brom, Reading and Kilmarnock before being appointed to the Scotland role in May 2019. 

High points during the Group A campaign included a stunning 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden and a remarkable 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo in which the Scots scored twice in the last three minutes of normal time.

Everybody across Scotland is now getting excited for Euro 2024, which will be only the second tournament the men’s national team has qualified for since the 1998 World Cup.

Dampening spirits slightly, they have recently lost friendly matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland, but there is real determination to bring a further piece of excitement to Ayrshire.

 

Ayr Advertiser: Burns Statue Square in AyrBurns Statue Square in Ayr (Image: Google Street View)

A source said: “The statue is being created by the Statue Accessibility Directorate's Diversity Officer, Olaf Pirlo. An appeal will go out for somebody with a big enough garden shed to store the Robert Burns statue, but council officials are confident that this will run.

"The national team’s qualification has got everybody talking about Scotland and Euro 2024, and Ayr is determined to do its bit for what will be a great summer.”

Extra information is due to be published later today – or you could simply read the first letter of each paragraph in this story.