THERE will be no major cutbacks at Rodney Parade now or in the immediate future, writes Robin Davey.

That is the pledge given by Newport's major financial backer Tony Brown amid widespread speculation about staff and player cuts after the refusal by the clubs to vote for a slimdown in the number at the top end.

Brown is deeply concerned about the future of the game in Wales because of the lack of funding, but insists he will honour contracts and will not walk away from his obligations at the club.

He has poured millions of pounds of his own money into the re-birth of Newport Rugby Club, and though there here will be no new investment, he will not turn his back on the club.

"Whatever success has been achieved has been achieved by the people on and off the field and we have a responsibility to both, so any talk of cutbacks in either is inaccurate," he said.

"The most expensive part is the players and with the amount of investment that has gone in we have got to make the most of what we have got.

"We want to keep the ambition we have got and though we do not anticipate any major signings we have got a good squad.

"Players like Shane Howarth, Ian Gough, Matt Pini, Adrian Garvey, James Richards and Paul Young have all re-signed. And it's down to us to bring on youngsters like Hal Luscombe and Nathan Brew, just like Andrew Powell who has had such a good season. "But there doesn't seem to be any way forward in Welsh rugby and it's important the club starts to address the gap between income and expenditure.

"Whatever the club is going to do the people have a right to be told first and I don't like this discussion in public.

PICTURE: Kiwi star Shane Howarth has resigned for Newport