GWENT presents a united front after the Welsh Rugby Union general committee last night rubber stamped new chief executive David Moffett's revolutionary plan for four regional teams next season.

If the recommendation is endorsed at an extraordinary meeting of all 239 WRU clubs on February 23, the four regional teams will represent Wales in the Heineken Cup and Celtic League competitions from next season.

Moffatt's plan involves franchises and he has invited four bids from interested parties. The split among stakeholders in the new entities will be 50% for the franchise winners, 30% for the other premier clubs in the area and 20% for all the district sides in that area.

The four areas have been split into south east, central, south west and west.

Already there is speculation that Llanelli and Cardiff will bid for two of the franchises and could emerge as stand alone clubs in the new set-up.

As a result Pontypridd and Swansea, who would be completely disadvantaged under that system, are already contemplating protesting and even taking legal action.

But in Gwent all is harmony, Newport and Ebbw Vale agreeing to join forces some time ago and the terms of the franchise allows all the other teams in Gwent to be involved.

Newport owner Tony Brown and Ebbw Vale counterpart Marcus Russell both gave the plan their approval this morning, Brown in a telephone call from abroad to Russell.

"Tony and I anticipated this would happen even before David Moffett arrived," said Russell.

"Nobody wants to lose their stand alone status at the highest level, but that's all history now.

"We recognised the benefit of putting combined teams into cross border competition some time ago and also the benefits of combined teams in economies of scale to reduce some of the costs.

"We stole a march on this some time ago, we didn't obstruct any efforts the other clubs made to reach an alternative to this, but the problems were outside our control in West Wales.

"So we ended up with the WRU's idea of consolidation. We now have to address the Union's proposals in more detail.

"We welcome the fact that the general committee have done something and have responded to David Moffett's initiative."

Anticipating there could be some kind of protest or threat, particularly from Pontypridd, Moffett admitted last night: "The biggest fear is some clubs want to litigate, but I'm not prepared to put to the extraordinary general meeting anything which places the WRU at risk or anything that would be a danger to our finances.

"People can put road blocks in the way, they've been there for five years and nothing has happened.

"People can talk about obstacles until the cows come home, but that will not get Welsh rugby where we want it to be."

A simple majority will be need at next month's extraordinary general meeting for Moffett's plan to be adopted.

WHAT IT MEANS

- Bids for four franchises to represent Wales in the Heineken Cup and Celtic League invited for next season.

- Those franchises will be split 50% for the winner, 30% to the other premier club in the area, 20% to all the district teams in the area.

- The four areas to be East Wales (Newport, Ebbw Vale and possibly Caerphilly); Central Wales (Cardiff and Pontypridd); South West Wales (Neath and Bridgend); West Wales (Llanelli and Swansea).

- Bids for franchises can come from individual clubs or individuals.

- Contracts of players will be dual not centrally controlled as the WRU want to keep benefactors on board.

- A 12-team Premier Division to play in the Welsh League and Principality Cup likely to be formed made up of existing nine premier sides plus top three in current First Division.

ARGUS Sport asked the Welsh League First Division clubs in Gwent how the new proposals will affect them.

Pontypool team manager Tony Clarke said: "Four provinces is what our division wanted anyway. We had a meeting on Wednesday night of the First Division clubs and it was pretty well unanimous that we wanted provinces together with a larger Premier Division which will give everyone a bigger fixture list.

"I think this will end a lot of the squabbling. If they had gone down the super club route, you would still have had the tribal fighting of 'I'm not going to support Newport super team'. "The provincial route will mean people will be able to support a Gwent team now."

Newbridge coach Jonathan Westwood added: "Everyone has got feelings on how it will evolve but until we see a full blueprint of it - things are changing hourly and not daily at the moment with meetings being held all the time - then it is difficult to comment on it.

"Surely, though, you could not have foreigners in the provinces and where do we fit into it? We have as many players that could go into a provincial side as Ebbw Vale and I'm sure that Pontypool and Cross Keys feel the same way."

Blackwood coach Mark Thomas said: "If they move the goalposts now in the middle of the season, it is a bit unfair on a club like ours.

"Had we known what we had to do at the start of the season, we could have brought in players to help us achieve a higher position."

Bedwas spokesman Mal Minty added: "I think four provinces is the best way to go. I do feel sorry for the Scarlets (Llanelli) because their record stands up on its' own.

"Until it's all out in black and white, though, then every club is up in the air.

"However, I don't think we have heard the last of this yet from people like Peter Thomas (Cardiff) or Stuart Gallacher (Llanelli)."