Glasgow Caledonians have confirmed that they will play most of their home league matches either at Hughenden or in Stirling and that they are likely to play at least one high-profile game in Perth.
Yesterday, as the Reds announced a one-year sponsorship deal with the media company Scotland On Line, jointly formed by DC Thomson and Scottish Telecom, chief executive David Jordan suggested that Glasgow Caledonians' European Cup match against Leicester is likely to be staged at McDiarmid Park in Perth.
However, Jordan reaffirmed that the superteam would not be repeating the mistake of last year when rugby fans were alientated by the choice of a soccer ground as the home headquarters.
''The main objective is to use rugby clubs,'' said Jordan. ''We've started a process of looking for grounds, but what we want to develop is a habit-forming audience.''
The implication of this is that the Reds are likely to play most of their home games out of two grounds, Hughenden and Bridgehaugh.
The other grounds under consideration are in Aberdeen, but yesterday Jordan confirmed that his side would not be playing any matches in Dundee. As to spectator numbers, Jordan suggested a realistic target of two to four thousand for crowd figures. Reds coach Richie Dixon believes that fans will support the superteam through club contacts. ''We'll encourage people to come and watch through our efforts at those clubs where we'll be helping out with sessions'' said Dixon.
The other football stadium being looked at seriously is Inverness Thistle's ground. ''The facilities at the Inverness ground are excellent and the other bonus is that the pitch drains well,'' stated Scotland hooker Gordon Bulloch, who has been to the Highland capital to inspect Thistle's stadium.
Bulloch's front-row colleague, David Hilton, along with his erstwhile Bath clubmate, Andy Nicol, were at Hughenden yesterday modelling the Reds new home and away strips, both of which will carry the Scotland On Line logo.
The new shirts have been designed by Canterbury Cotton Oxford, who will be providing the Reds playing equipment for the 1999/2000 season.
The Reds have been training all week since coming together on Monday after a two-week break. Among the new recruits familiarising himself with the training methods of the Reds yesterday was former Leicester centre Jonathan Stuart, who along with Ian McInroy and Barry Irving is one of three new midfield players in the Glasgow Caledonians squad.
Stuart admitted that it was a tough decision leaving Leicester but indicated that the lure of playing for one of the national sides was important in coming north. ''I had to think of my possible career'' he said.
Also introduced yesterday was lock forward Steve Griffiths, an exile whose parents come from Edinburgh. Griffiths, who played two seasons with Leeds, admitted: ''I hope this is a stepping stone to better things'' Another key figure for Reds this season is Gordon Simpson who missed nearly all of last season through injury, but is back at training.
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