Gavin Hastings wants to make Edinburgh as renowned for its club rugby as for its world-famous annual Festival.

The new Edinburgh club chairman spent his senior playing career with Watsonians and London Scottish, retiring shortly after the advent of professionalism in the sport.

With the paid game struggling to justify itself in Scotland, former international full-back Hastings faces a daunting challenge at Murrayfield in convincing the public of the appeal of club rugby.

After taking the club back from its former franchisees over the summer, the Scottish Rugby Union are determined to see both Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors succeed in the Magners League and in European competition.

Hastings said: "My feeling is that Edinburgh is one of the great European capital cities and it is important that we have a sporting team that represents the aspirations of the city.

"The city is a leader in so many things; the wonderful Festival and we've got a great tourism industry thriving in a beautiful city.

"I want to take Edinburgh onto the heights where people don't just associate the city with tourism and festivals, but also for sporting success as well."

The 45-year-old added: "The fundamental aspiration for everybody associated with the club is to develop a team that is capable of reaching the latter stages of the Heineken Cup and the upper echelons of the Magners League.

"If I didn't think we were capable of doing that then I wouldn't have accepted the role of chairman."

The appointment of former England boss Andy Robinson as head coach last week was a bold statement of Edinburgh's intentions, even if pulling out of a deal to sign Australia fly-half Stephen Larkham was perhaps not.

The deal for Larkham had been agreed by the previous franchise holders, brothers Bob and Alex Carruthers, but was scrapped when the club passed from their Edinburgh Rugby Ltd company into SRU hands after the summer of domestic turmoil.

On the pitch, defeat to Leinster in Edinburgh's opening match of the Magners League season has been followed by victory over Ulster and a draw against last season's champions Ospreys.

Hastings believes fresh ideas from the newly restructured senior management at Edinburgh, which includes chief executive Nic Cartwright, can rejuvenate the club.

He said: "Edinburgh Rugby Club has encountered a number of difficult challenges over the past few years.

"We all decided when Nic Cartwright, Andy Robinson and I came on board that it was time to draw a line under what has happened before and use that as a starting point for the new Edinburgh.

"It is up to this current group of players to create a legacy and for us to pull together. We are creating a new start and we have not been influenced by what has happened in the past.

"We've got clear heads and plenty of ambition to take the club forward. I am confident we have got the right management team in place and I'm looking forward to the challenges of the coming season."

SportingLife / Eurosport