HAVING blasted provincial rugby in last week's column, and gained a certain notoriety - not to mention support - as a result, it is only right that I come up with an alternative.

Obviously, it must be based on club rugby which I advocated so strongly last week, given its history and tradition.

It has to be that way, and not super clubs either because of the animosity that would cause among the have-nots.

I see no reason why the future at top level in Wales cannot be eight clubs competing in Europe, in an enhanced Celtic League and in a Welsh Premier Division.

The arguments against that are there are not enough quality players to go around, and there is not enough money to support that many teams.

If the Welsh Rugby Union was properly run and if there was enough will to succeed, then there could comfortably be room at the top for eight.

There are considerably more in England and France, bigger countries though they may be. Money is a problem, mainly because of the crippling debt to the WRU of the Millennium Stadium, which is around £50m.

Leading clubs are way adrift of their English rivals in the funding they receive from their governing body and rely heavily on benefactors.

But the WRU have been badly let down by the National Assembly which has given them little support considering the benefits the stadium brings to the city of Cardiff and surrounding areas.

That is apparently being addressed at the moment, and the signs that help is at hand at last are encouraging.

A sponsor for the leagues, albeit from Division One down, is at last in place while greater efforts are being made on the marketing front.

And David Moffett starts as group chief executive of the WRU in the new year with an impressive track record and committed to getting costs down.

All of that means the financial situation is actually improving and should continue in that vein.

That means more money should be available to run the game at top level instead of decimating club rugby in Wales as it has stood for 130 years which most fans want to continue.

And, on the playing front, there is plenty of evidence that a lot of promising youngsters, the majority Welsh, are starting to come through.

All the top clubs have got them, and if Welsh rugby goes regional with only four or maybe five teams, where are these youngsters going to be employed?

There will be a dire risk of them being lost to the game forever because there will be no room for them. Is that what the WRU want?

And by narrowing the base so severely, surely there is a risk of turning other youngsters away from the game completely.

With so little for them to focus on at the top end of the game, interest could easily fade. So I believe the WRU, instead of trying to wipe out club rugby as we have always known it, should nurture it.

That should be their role - encouragement not destruction. Go for eight, yes eight, clubs at the top not four or five provincial teams.

Also we cannot tolerate the kind of repressive regime we have got at the moment. The Wales management have got to realise that public relations is an important part of their job.

At least three rugby writers have been hauled into 'darkened' rooms, with efforts made to intimidate them into changing their views, approach or lines of thinking.

All I can say is, if attempts are made to make me change my mind on provincial rugby and how it will lead Welsh rugby down the road to ruin, they've got absolutely no chance.

And the WRU want to get the crowds in for the lesser games this month against Fiji on Saturday and Canada a week Saturday.

How do the Welsh management go about helping the cause? By not announcing the team to face Fiji until Thursday at 3.30pm, with no access to players before then.

That means no publicity for the game until two days before the match. What a way to sell tickets!

Instead of directing their fire at members of the media, the Wales management ought to look at themselves in the mirror.