Pearce threatens to walk away from Bristol

Malcolm Pearce has been such a regular in the Last Chance Saloon this season that his liver must be something to behold, and he was there again yesterday, warning that if Bristol's latest money-raising scheme failed to generate £1m before the end of next month, both he and the club would be history as far as Premiership rugby was concerned. After almost five years at the sharp end – a bruising period that has left him £9m out of pocket – he indicated he would drink up and go home to nurse his financial hangover.

But, as ever with Pearce, it quickly became a case of "definitely maybe". Pressed on his plans, he refused to state categorically that he would cut his ties with the club at the end of the current campaign. "If the financial situation improves and if people want me to hang around and make a contribution, fine," he said. And later, after the formalities surrounding Bristol's "5000 Club" venture had been completed, he talked with engaging enthusiasm about a possible 50-50 partnership with Bristol City, by far the strongest of the city's two Nationwide League football teams.

This, together with the move to recruit 5,000 new members at £200 a time, is the key to the rugby club's survival. Bristol's derby with Bath in May, a fixture spiced by the relegation threat surrounding both sides, will be played at Ashton Gate, Bristol City's 22,000-capacity stadium south of the River Avon. Pearce believes that with imaginative marketing, as many as 18,000 spectators will turn out for the game, thereby clinching the argument for an effective merger between the two clubs.

Bristol City are losing money, and are keen to double the amount of activity at their excellent stadium – a venue far better equipped than the Memorial Ground, which the rugby club owned until the late 1990s before selling out to Bristol Rovers, with whom they have a highly unsatisfactory tenancy agreement. In Pearce's view, a move across the river makes perfect sense: modern facilities, a shared management burden, joint marketing and ticketing operations, bigger crowds, more security. It is difficult to argue with his logic.

He needs the new recruitment drive to succeed, however. If he can deliver 5,000 season-ticket holders as well as a team featuring a number of front-line internationals – Agustin Pichot, Felipe Contepomi, Daryl Gibson, Phil Christophers, Julian White – he should be able to negotiate a favourable deal with the football club. But if the "5000 Club" idea falls flat, he will finally give up on the Bristol sporting public and walk away – a development that will either see the club go to the wall for the second time in half a decade, or force it out of the city. Oxford and Worcester have been mentioned as possible new homes.

The unpredictable Pearce also said he had been contacted by unnamed officials from the National Football League in the United States. "They are keen to get involved in stadium management in Europe and see Premiership rugby as offering the most exciting opportunity," he said. "I'll be travelling to the States soon to find out more." Who knows? Bristol may end up playing in Pasadena, where the facilities – not to mention the hamburgers – are even better than those at Ashton Gate. It is, though, a long way from the West Country.

Back on Planet Earth, the Bristol No 8 Ross Beattie has been added to Scotland's squad for the Calcutta Cup match with England at Twickenham tomorrow week. Beattie replaces Jon Petrie as back-row cover for the in-form combination of Jason White, Andrew Mower and Simon Taylor.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (v England, Twickenham, Saturday, 22 March): Backs: M Blair (Edinburgh), A Craig (Orrell), K Logan (Wasps), J McLaren (Brodeaux), G Metcalfe (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh), B Redpath (Sale, captain), G Ross (Leeds), G Townsend (Borders), K Utterson (Borders). Forwards: R Beattie (Bristol), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Grimes (Newcastle), N Hines (Edinburgh), G Kerr (Leeds), A Mower (Newcastle), S Murray (Edinburgh), R Russell (Saracens), T Smith (Northampton), S Taylor (Edinburgh), J White (Glasgow).