THE appointment of a new Wales rugby coach could be put off for at least another month because of all the current turmoil in the game.

And, as suggested in the Argus weeks ago, the whole Welsh Rugby Union board could soon be voted out of office, not just chairman David Pickering and chief executive Steve Lewis.

And that would mean Gerald Davies, the man many would like to see at the very top to provide dignity and respect, losing his place on the Union just nine months after he won a seat on the board.

Regulations governing board members would prevent anyone re-applying for a two-year period.

The burning issue of the next Wales coach could well come to a head this week when a crucial WRU board meeting is held on Thursday night.

The Union are due to announce the date of the extraordinary meeting called by the clubs having already called their own special meeting for April 23.

The deadline for applications for the Wales coaching vacancy is on Friday which could well rule out people's favourite Gareth Jenkins, the Llanelli Scarlets chief, who has said he can't work with the people running the Union.

It would clearly be ridiculous if the man regarded as Wales' top coach wasn't at least in the hat for the top job.

Partly because of that the appointment could well be put off until the meeting or meetings have been held, a vote of no confidence has been taken and it is finally known who is running the WRU for the forseeable future.

On that basis it could be well into May before a new coach is appointed with almost no time to prepare the squad for their two Tests in Argentina.

Only Phil Davies, the Leeds director of rugby and ex-Wales captain, has been interviewed so far for the job, but after being moved from the coaching post at Leeds, favourites to be relegated from the Guinness Premiership, he would not be a popular choice.

The leading overseas candidate is Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, the former New Zealand assistant, a dour figure with a good track record having led his team to the Super 12 title last season and currently leading the revised Super 14 Championship.

The chaos in the game should be sorted out first, though, especially as it appears the clubs are, partly at least, being led by ex-WRU members who have lost their seats and may have their own agendas.

Former WRU chief David Moffett has called for clarity from the top while believing there could be a witch-hunt going on. It is difficult to imagine that is what the clubs really want.

It could well backfire on them if a number of respected board members like Davies and one from Gwent, are voted out.

As it is, before long Wales could have no chief executive and no chairman as well as no coach, hardly the kind of situation to tempt a leading candidate from overseas.

The WRU are to lose Alan Hamer, credited with transforming the WRU finances and another leading member of the executive board. He leaves at the end of June to pursue other business interests.