By Lestyn
January 20 2003

Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel's appears to have turned his back on a merger with Neath, preferring a link up with Pontypridd.This comes as an amazing U-turn from Bridgend.

Having agreed on Thursday to join with Pontypridd in the Premiership club's five side proposal. But they dramatically pulled out on Friday to re-merge with Neath, something they had agreed on in November.

To complete a full circle of event's, at a meeting this morning both clubs were talking and are believed to be close to an agreement.

Bridgend's new deal, could see Neath forced into joining with dreaded rivals Swansea. Neath's Chief executive Mike Cuddy is set for talk's with Swansea's chairman Roger Blyth tomorrow. But it is unlikely that the club owned by the union have little option but to agree with the Jacks.

That all depends on whether David Moffett's provincial plan is rejected or not. The controversial Chief revealed his new proposals on Sunday, with the expected dropping of a province in North Wales, and four South based franchise- like provinces.

Resistance to Moffett's plan's has dropped to only four Premiership clubs. Llanelli and Cardiff's belief that they should stand alone is slowing down the revolutionary changing of Welsh Rugby. The only other two premiership club's who appear to still have backing for the five team plan are Swansea and Pontypridd.

The franchise system indicated in Moffett's report would see the Premiership club's taking a significant percentage of shares in the provinces. Newport and Ebbw Vale would own about 30 percent in a Gwent province, with 20 percent divided between the likes of Pontypool and Newbridge, with the controlling 50 percent owned by the union.

What a lot of all this comes down to is the financial implications of the number of teams. Even if We could find 140 quality Welsh players of international standard, the funding from the union would not be enough to go round five teams. They want at least 9 million pounds to put their 5 team plan into action, but as the cash strapped union look to cut expenditure, they have only been promised 6.7 million pounds. The clubs are now asking for a figure in between the two sums.

The last few day's have only added to the growing demand for a solution, but as the club's bickering carry's on, Moffett's plan may prove to be the only option.