Kenny Logan believes that a professional rugby team based in central Scotland has the potential to emulate the commercial success enjoyed by transplanted Guinness Premiership sides London Wasps and London Irish.

Both clubs have seen attendances and sponsorship revenues increase dramatically since they relocated from the capital to outlying venues.

Logan's old side, Wasps, now play their home fixtures at the Causeway Stadium in High Wycombe, while London Irish ground share with Barclays FA Premiership newcomers Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.

Logan is part of the Graham Burgess-led consortium which is negotiating to buy a controlling interest in one of the SRU-funded pro teams, with Glasgow their preferred franchise option.

The Warriors currently play their home games at Firhill, but if a deal can be struck with the Union, Burgess will look to move the side to Stirling's Forthbank Stadium, Perth's McDiarmid Park or Falkirk Community Stadium.

"There is no sport in these areas which dominates like football does in the cities' Logan told the Daily Mail, explaining the raison d'etre behind Burgess' thinking.

"For a rugby team to have a chance of attracting a new generation of supporters you have to go into an area, or a community, where there is a gap in the market.

"When Wasps went to High Wycombe, people were sceptical, but attendances have doubled.

"The only London-based rugby team that continues to draw decent crowds is Harlequins. But they have a long, well-established history at The Stoop - and they don't have a dominant football team on their doorstep like Rangers or Celtic.

"In a Scottish rugby context, if Edinburgh played Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on the same day as Hearts were at home in the SPL, where do you think the public interest would lie? Most people would rather go to see Hearts.

"I think the commercial opportunities for a rugby team in Stirling, Perth or Falkirk are huge." Logan insists a regional location can pay off, despite the commercial failure of the SRU-backed Borders team in Galashiels. He says the Borders, in common with Edinburgh and Glasgow, have been hamstrung by a serious lack of marketing commitment.

"When I played for Glasgow a couple of years ago, we had one marketing officer. We need to have at least five of these guys to go out and sell the club," Logan added.

"Despite their poor crowds, I believe the Borders could still work commercially - it just needs the right level of commitment from the owners to make it happen.

"The time-scale, if we are to have something up and running for next season, is pretty tight," Logan admitted. "But I feel we can deliver on our blueprint should we get the green light in the next few weeks.

"I am not in this to make money. None of us are. We just want to make a difference.

"I am fed up with people slagging off Scottish rugby. People down south see our clubs losing in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League and think we are a laughing stock. I feel we can break the mould and create a team the public and sponsors will get behind."

This article was posted on 4-Jul-2006, 08:11 by Hugh Barrow.