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| Football club fights Diageo cuts | Football club fights Diageo cuts |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Kilmarnock Football Club is supporting a petition against plans by Diageo to close its packaging plant in the town. | Kilmarnock Football Club is supporting a petition against plans by Diageo to close its packaging plant in the town. |
| The drinks firm said on Wednesday it was closing the town's Johnnie Walker plant and its Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow with the loss of 900 jobs. | The drinks firm said on Wednesday it was closing the town's Johnnie Walker plant and its Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow with the loss of 900 jobs. |
| The petition is being launched on Friday by SNP MSP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Willie Coffey. | The petition is being launched on Friday by SNP MSP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Willie Coffey. |
| Kilmarnock FC said it wanted Diageo to reverse its decision and supported workers whose jobs were under threat. | Kilmarnock FC said it wanted Diageo to reverse its decision and supported workers whose jobs were under threat. |
| Diageo said it had taken the "extremely difficult" decision to close its Kilmarnock and Glasgow facilities in order to "secure the sustainability" of its business in Scotland. | Diageo said it had taken the "extremely difficult" decision to close its Kilmarnock and Glasgow facilities in order to "secure the sustainability" of its business in Scotland. |
| In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision Willie CoffeyKilmarnock and Loudoun MSP | In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision Willie CoffeyKilmarnock and Loudoun MSP |
| The drinks giant said that up to 900 job losses would be offset by the creation of up to 400 new jobs through the expansion of a packaging plant at Leven in Fife. | The drinks giant said that up to 900 job losses would be offset by the creation of up to 400 new jobs through the expansion of a packaging plant at Leven in Fife. |
| The majority of the job losses - about 700 - will be at the Johnnie Walker facility in East Ayrshire. | The majority of the job losses - about 700 - will be at the Johnnie Walker facility in East Ayrshire. |
| Michael Johnston, chairman of Kilmarnock Football Club, urged the drinks firm to think again. | Michael Johnston, chairman of Kilmarnock Football Club, urged the drinks firm to think again. |
| "Diageo's decision to close the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock must be reversed," he said. | "Diageo's decision to close the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock must be reversed," he said. |
| "Kilmarnock Football Club will support the employees whose jobs are under threat, and our local politicians in their campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock where it was founded in 1820." | "Kilmarnock Football Club will support the employees whose jobs are under threat, and our local politicians in their campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock where it was founded in 1820." |
| Mr Coffey will launch the petition at the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock on Friday afternoon. | Mr Coffey will launch the petition at the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock on Friday afternoon. |
| 'Dreadful decision' | 'Dreadful decision' |
| He said: "In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision. | He said: "In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision. |
| "Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock FC are both vital to the life of this town. I am pleased to see Kilmarnock FC take such an active part in opposing this dreadful decision." | "Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock FC are both vital to the life of this town. I am pleased to see Kilmarnock FC take such an active part in opposing this dreadful decision." |
| Meanwhile, more talks are scheduled to take place on Friday over Diageo's restructuring proposals. | Meanwhile, more talks are scheduled to take place on Friday over Diageo's restructuring proposals. |
| Scotland's finance secretary, John Swinney, will meet officials from the company during a visit to Kilmarnock. | Scotland's finance secretary, John Swinney, will meet officials from the company during a visit to Kilmarnock. |
| The meeting comes a day after First Minister Alex Salmond criticised Diageo after meeting with officials from the drinks firm. | The meeting comes a day after First Minister Alex Salmond criticised Diageo after meeting with officials from the drinks firm. |