GWENT rugby officials believe an EGM is inevitable in the wake of Mike Ruddock's departure - though they are split on whether it is the right way forward.

It takes the signatures of just ten clubs out of 245 to force a special meeting, and there is plenty of grassroots support for Ruddock.

While some believe such a gathering would serve only to create a bigger divide, there is a unanimous belief that the facts behind the shock exit of the Grand Slam-winning coach are being kept from them.

Abertillery / Blaenau Gwent secretary David Mason said: "I think it's more likely to be 210 clubs wanting a meeting than 10, and I think that it will be an incredibly fiery affair. I think most people are getting fed up and want it all resolved, and an EGM is probably the only way to do that.

"We've not been kept informed by our own union and are relying on the media to tell us what is going on. There are questions that need to be asked and we need to know the truth. "It would be wrong to bad mouth somebody without knowing the whole facts, but if it's proven that there were underhand tactics then heads must roll."

Simon Eales, secretary of Newport Saracens, is not surprised that the whole episode has been dealt with poorly. He said: "We would definitely support an EGM and we need one to get the whole story. It all smacks with inconsistencies and it's the only way to get the facts on the table.

"It's been handled in exactly the way that you would expect from them and we need to get to the bottom of what's going on. If the WRU want our support they need to tell us the facts."

Newport HSOB chairman Steve Barnes said: "The clubs are the union yet they have treated us with the utmost disrespect. There are so many rumours flying around and they will just fester unless something is done.

"At a point when it was looking like Wales was on the up we have made a laughing stock of ourselves yet again."

Abergavenney chairman Mike Aylett is more cautious, believing that nothing would be achieved by holding a crisis meeting.

He said: "For the sake of Welsh rugby I think there should be a line drawn under it. I think that we will probably get to hear more about it later on and I don't think it's a finished job yet.

"We need to get on with things and I don't think there is any mileage in an EGM - there are questions that need to be asked but I don't feel that's the best way of doing things. If things come out that somebody has done wrong let's deal with it then."

Like many clubs, Croesyceiliog are waiting until their elected board members report back to them at the district meeting.

Secretary John Jones said: "We haven't discussed it as a club but I think we will be best served by waiting to see what happens.

"There's no need to rush into anything and I'm not sure how much good an EGM would do. To a large extent what's done is done."

Usk secretary Gerry Hawkins said: "The executive have to appreciate who pays their salary and I'm disappointed that they did not see fit to take the decision back to the districts.

"I think something should be done but I'm not sure what good an EGM would do.

"We can't say whether individuals should go until we know what's gone on and I'm not sure we ever will, even if a meeting is called."