PLANS to hand over stadium security to football clubs raised financial concerns among police board members today.

Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Steve House said increasing demands on frontline policing were behind the move to cut the number of officers policing matches.

But members of the Strathclyde Police Authority - the body responsible for the force's budget - warned of "serious" financial implications for police and football clubs.

The Strathclyde force area covers Celtic and Rangers' grounds as well as four other Scottish Premier League clubs and four First Division sides.

Clubs were only charged around £1.4million of the £4.8m cost of providing security at matches in the 2007/2008 season.

This is only around half of the £2.7m Strathclyde Police was entitled to recover.

Members of the Strathclyde Police Authority, formerly known as the Joint Police Board, today rejected a request to note the Chief Constable's recommendations at a meeting in Lochgilphead.

Convener Paul Rooney, said: "The report highlighted some important issues. Unfortunately it also raised serious concerns about the financial implications of removing officers from football grounds.

"Despite questions from members, senior officers were unable to give an indication of how the review will impact on our budget or football clubs.

"On this basis the report was rejected and the Chief Constable has been asked to prepare a more comprehensive report for approval at the next authority meeting."

Clubs will be given 18 months' notice before match policing is cut.

A Celtic spokesman said the club did not want to comment on the report.

Rangers did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.