Stuart Gallacher says making Parc y Scarlets a success is a long-term job

Scarlets chief Stuart Gallacher says he is unconcerned in the short-term about not reaching a 9,000 average match attendance target at Parc y Scarlets.

Just 7,147 turned up to watch the West Wales region beat Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

The Scarlets' average attendance in the four games since moving there in November has been 7,561.

"I'm not concerned in the short-term of where we are. It's a long-term job," Gallacher told BBC Sport Wales.

"We've got a business plan that takes us into next season and all of next season and beyond.

"Some things in the budget, in the business plan, we have surpassed, merchandising being one, corporate being another, non-match day events being another, but there's been a little blip in bums on seats and that's where… all the effort is.

606: DEBATE How can the Scarlets improve their attendances at Parc Y Scarlets?

"We are not downcast. We are not disappointed.

He said everyone was working extremely hard to "take on board... what fans are saying, what supporters and members are saying because it's important to listen to them too."

The Scarlets host the Barbarians on Saturday, 31 January to mark the official opening of the ground that has replaced Stradey Park.

Gallacher said when the region's business plan was drawn up 10 months ago, that celebration game had not been confirmed and had not been included in financial projections.

He admitted moving grounds in mid-season had not been ideal and the credit crunch had not helped, but said there were signs of an upturn in fortunes on the field in a season that had seen them win only once in the Heineken Cup.

He said: "Everybody's settling down. The players certainly are now.

Having success is not just about having bums on seats, although that's very important. Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher

"On the playing front, we've put some decent wins together here in the last four or five games so it's beginning to turn the corner there on the playing field."

"My reaction [to the attendance figures] is to work even harder to get them up.

He said in hindsight they probably could not have moved at a more difficult time because of wider economic conditions.

"However, that… is out of our hands so we've got to work damned hard to get the people in and that will take a while, I suppose."

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