Can't pay, won't pay

They have yet to play a game this season, calling off their preliminary round Welsh cup-tie and last week's Welsh League Division Seven East clash against St Albans.

Their problem is they don't have enough players, and they point the finger at players demanding cash before they will play.

They had just 11 players for the St Albans game which left them with no alternative but to cancel it.

Though they face an uncertain future, club officials are admant they will not change their stance by starting to pay players.

"We are struggling, and it's all down to payments," admitted fixture secretary Graham Bull.

"We just haven't got enough players, we only had 11 for the St Albans game.

"It's a very tricky situation, but we are not ruining Blaenau Gwent. We are an amateur club, and that's the way it's got to go."

Bull calls on the Welsh Rugby Union to take a lead and sort out the problems in the game.

"We'll probably have to go down and appear before their disciplinary committee over this, but the Union have got to give us a direction, they've been promising to do it for years," he said.

"They have got to scrap payments, then we'll all be on the same level.

"In fact, our situation is helping other clubs because two of our players played on permit at the weekend.

"How would those clubs have managed without our players?

"And players would rather play at a junior level than in a league system if you don't pay them.

"The Union have got to scrap payments from Division One down, then scrap the league system so we can get back to the old Monmouthshire League.

"To make sure money goes on the right things clubs would have to show receipts for buying kit and food and bus hire."

But Bull insists Blaenau Gwent will continue as a club whatever happens.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel and whatever happens this club won't fold," he said. "We've got things under control, now it's up to the powers that be."