No end in sight to the pain game in Wales

There have been more than 100 applications for the new post of group chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, which proves, if nothing else, that there is no shortage of gluttons for punishment.

A candidate of the calibre of an Adam Crozier at the Football Association is being sought, and while experience in rugby is not essential, a thick skin will be. The vacancy, at an undisclosed salary, is due to be filled by Christmas, by which time the rest of the six-person executive board charged with "strategising" the sport in Wales will be in place. There will be a secretary (to run the grass roots), directors of finance, marketing and rugby, and a manager for the Millennium Stadium. Yet the continued existence of the WRU general committee, albeit in a slimmed-down version, means the new board is answerable to the old guard.

In a process strikingly similar to the growing pains of England's RFU a couple of years ago, the rationalisation is the result of a long round of arguments and accusations. When an august publication such as the Rugby Annual for Wales hits the pre-season bookstalls with the words "WRU Crisis Special" emblazoned across it, you know that times have been tough.

Last season the Gang of Six – Bridgend, Cardiff, Llanelli, Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea – made it clear that their owner-investors were fed up with what they saw as their one-sided subsidy of the professional game. EGMs of the WRU were the order of the day. So far, the owners have resisted the temptation to walk. Derrick King, chairman of the Premier clubs (there are nine in the top division, including Neath, Ebbw Vale and Caerphilly), admits there is a "wait and see" attitude regarding the new structure.

"The WRU have promised us £8.1 million," said King, who is also chairman of Bridgend. "That is not enough money to support the full-time clubs, and I know for example that Leighton Samuel, at our club, is topping us up by an average £50,000 a month. But we've sat in meeting after meeting with the WRU in the last month, and the money is not there. There's no easy answer."

The much-maligned Glanmor Griffiths, chairman and treasurer of the WRU, is attempting to restructure the £55m debt outstanding on the Millennium Stadium. Rockport this week chipped in £1m to have their names on the national jersey, but neither the Celtic League, which kicks off next weekend, nor the Welsh Premiership (starting in October) have a sponsor. "We could pick one up for £100,000," said King, "but that wouldn't go far among nine clubs." The Gang of Six cast envious eyes at central funding of £1.8m per club in England, but the RFU have paid off their loans on Twickenham, and will fill the ground three times in November. Wales offer only Romania, Fiji and Canada before the All Blacks.

The eternal worry is that simply slashing players' wages will drive Welsh stars away to the Zurich Premiership, and kill off the domestic game. At least there is dialogue. The clubs have backed the Wales coach, Steve Hansen, by restricting their international players to 20 games this season. Hansen, in turn, will not quibble if a player goes over the limit for an important match come April or May. A new points system has been introduced to give the Celtic League and Principality Cup a weighting when it comes to deciding the following season's Heineken Cup qualifiers.

Llanelli and Pontypridd held Wales's end up in Europe last year, and Neath pricked the consciences of the Gang of Six by finishing third in the league. But Wales are 100-1 to win next year's World Cup. Any takers?