Dons switch Uefa Cup dates

Aberdeen will visit the Moldovan national stadium

Aberdeen have been forced to switch the dates of their Uefa Cup qualifier against Moldovan side Nistru Otaci.

The Moldovan leg of the tie had already been moved from Nistru Otaci's tiny stadium to the national stadium in Chisinau.

But Zimbru Chisinau are also due to play their Uefa qualifier first leg at home and, as such, Nistru have been forced to move their game.

The first leg on Thursday 15 August will now take place at Pittodrie, with the second leg a fortnight later in Chisinau's Republican Stadium.

Aberdeen general manager David Johnston has returned from Moldova with better news than expected of conditions in the country.

But the 200 supporters expected to travel to the former Soviet Republic will be issued with a "survival guide" on how to avoid trouble in Chisinau, including not attracting attention by wearing kilts.

"The facilities were not as bad as we had thought," said Aberdeen spokesman Andrew Shinie.

"The hotel is fine, including the kitchens. But we will probably take our own food with us. Our lads are used to more choice at breakfast and we are taking things that will be better for athletes."