GIVE us fair play, Newport Gwent Dragons ask the Welsh Rugby Union in their escalating dispute over stand alone status and funding.

The Dragons are the only region still to sign the participation agreement with the WRU and it means they have not been paid this month, though salaries are safe from another source.

WRU group chief executive David Moffett repeated at Sunday's annual meeting at Port Talbot that the Dragons will not be granted stand alone status.

And there is no budging on the Dragons' funding issue, Moffett saying it is for the regions to sort that out. The Dragons want the same funding as the Ospreys, who get £300,000 more, or similar stand alone status as Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets.

Marinos counters today, "This is all about having a sensible dialogue on the dynamics within the game. The only reason we are saying we should stand alone and have the same as Llanelli and Cardiff is because we don't have that status.

"We would be happy being a region if we get paid as a region. We aren't stand alone, it's a simple arithmetical calculation. Why should we expect the same funding as a stand alone club?"

Moffett argues, "The split of the money was agreed between the regions, but there was a differential for those that played out of two grounds who needed more money. The Dragons play out of one ground, the Ospreys out of two.

"Ultimately it comes back to the distribution of funds which is a matter for the regions. For one to say they wish to stand alone is bringing in an extra argument, they will have to deal with it themselves, but we don't have a mandate for it.

"The Dragons have been told that time and time again, but it doesn't sink in. If we gave that, Neath and Swansea would demand it, then Ebbw Vale, Caerphilly and others would say we want the opportunity to get into the Heineken Cup and it would be an absolute shambles.

"We are starting to announce all sorts of improvements and here we are having an argument about whether one team wants to stand alone.

"We will not be bullied because of what one person and a couple of others want. We need to work together, but it's got a little bit to do with ego."