THE Welsh Premier Division clubs are unlikely to know until the end of this month just which clubs will be relegated at the end of the season.

Club representatives met Welsh Rugby Union representatives at Aberavon last night to discuss issues surrounding the new criteria for Premier Division qualification.

It is understood the clubs were told that several of them had still not provided all the information the Union require on which to base a decision and had to do so as a matter of urgency.

Some clubs, believed to number four, are understood to have passed all aspects of the criteria inspection, including ground facilities, finance and administration.

Others are understood to have passed with certain conditions to be met and which may cost some many thousands of pounds (on ground improvements), while rumours persist that one club has failed the criteria.

As things stand the bottom two clubs will be relegated at the end of the season with the club finishing two from bottom possibly involved in a play-off with the top First Division team.

That team is Bonymaen but it is unlikely they will meet the Premier Division criteria, so a play-off may not be necessary.

Nevertheless the Union have set a provisional date of May 20 though the Premier clubs have asked for a play-off over two legs, which is what happened the last time a play-off was necessary, and the WRU will reconsider this.

The situation, not all the fault of the Union, remains unsatisfactory as many clubs still cannot plan properly for next season.

The Union have said and reiterated that any club failing to meet the criteria will be relegated regarded of their finishing position at the end of the season.

In particular this means that the club which finishes bottom but one in the Premier Division will face an anxious wait to see if they avoid the drop, depending on whether the club rumoured to have failed the criteria finishes in the bottom two or not.