Newport RFC members have a choice – to hand Rodney Parade over to the WRU, or let the debtors sell it to property developers. Robin Davey believes they have to let go of their misgivings if they want to hold onto some rugby.
Survive, flourish and maybe even prosper . . . or go to the wall. That is the stark choice facing Newport RFC shareholders at an extraordinary meeting next month.
At stake is the very future of rugby at the historic Rodney Parade ground, and whether there is any future at all. The vote – and it needs a 75% majority – will decide whether the Dragons and Newport remain playing at Rodney Parade or whether it becomes another supermarket or block of flats.
A no-brainer, you might think. But far from it. For the natives, or some of them, are restless, and they’re unhappy about the detail.
The WRU have reached a heads of agreement for a deal which includes the purchase of Rodney Parade and has been ratified by the boards of the WRU, Newport and the Dragons.
It includes changing the name of the pro team to Dragons – dropping Newport and Gwent from the current title which has caused problems ever since the inception of regional rugby.
The Union want to lay a 4G pitch to replace the current grass version which has caused all manner of problems, with flooding a major issue.
The Union also say they are committed to Newport playing at Rodney Parade and that they will call the shots in future dealing with Newport County, who share the ground with the two rugby sides. They also describe as nonsense suggestions they plan to move the region to North Wales.
WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips admits Gwent has a proud history and has a bright future, adding that the prospects of the deal going through comes down to trust.
He says there is no time-frame about the long-term future of rugby at Rodney Parade, but they are not making these investments other than for the long-term future of rugby in Gwent. They are investing millions, he insists, so they’re unlikely to walk away from it.
Furthermore, Dragons chairman Martyn Hazell has insisted that the alternative to the deal going through is financial disaster and the receivers being called in.
Faced with the weight of this evidence, the neutral might think agreeing to this deal being passed would be a formality.
But that is not the case, for a number of Newport supporters are still unhappy with the arrangements.
They are concerned that no guarantees in terms of specified time have been given about their long-term future at the ground.
They are also unhappy about giving up ownership of Rodney Parade, while feeling they have no opportunity to make any money at the ground from this new arrangement.
Some – including myself, as it happens – are worried that these shareholders will scupper the deal, believing Newport can sell the ground themselves and move elsewhere to a new venue.
But as Hazell stresses, if this fails to go through the bailiffs will be in the next day. By the time loans are called in by himself, Tony Brown, the WRU and the bank, there will be nothing left.
Having taken soundings at Friday night’s game between the Dragons and Ulster, I discovered that while many are unhappy about the deal they admit they have no choice when it comes to the vote.
A number of former Newport players who are shareholders don’t particularly like the thought of giving up Rodney Parade ownership or the fact that they haven’t been given an exact guarantee in terms of length of time regarding their playing future.
But at the same time they realise there is no alternative to voting for this deal. The alternative is oblivion.
Vote for it and the Dragons receive new investment. Both teams benefit from the laying of a new artificial pitch and the Dragons recruitment is set to receive a long-awaited shot in the arm.
In short, the future would look a lot brighter. A no-brainer indeed.
