EBBW VALE'S destiny lays with the Welsh Rugby Union, says chief executive Tony Dilloway (pictured).

He met with WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths for crisis talks yesterday with a Monday night deadline for deciding the club's future.

After a one-and-a-half hour meeting held in Cardiff, the WRU and Ebbw Vale issued a joint statement which read: "In light of yesterday's meeting both parties are to re-evaluate the situation."

In short, the WRU have not offered Vale the £350,000 they need to meet their financial deficit for next season and, with Ebbw Vale's directors set to meet on Monday night, the club face being wound-up as a business.

The WRU have to consult their lawyers over the weekend and decide whether they will bale the club out, as they have done in the cases of Neath, Llanelli and Pontypridd, before giving Vale their decision on Monday.

The Steelmen are in dire straits and Dilloway says the fact they have been handed only one competitive match against Welsh opposition next season before October 26, with only one home match in four months after Christmas, means the club will be deprived of important gate receipts with a huge shortfall in finances to be met.

Unless the WRU can help them bridge their shortfall, Ebbw Vale RFC face winding-up on Monday when Dilloway has to present contingency plans to the club's board of directors if the WRU cannot help and an investor does not emerge.

Dilloway said: "The fate of Ebbw Vale is in the hands of the WRU. They are in a position to keep professional rugby in North Gwent and we have to wait till Monday now to see if they will help us."

Director of rugby Ray Harris said the club has received several calls making tentative enquiries about helping Vale, but nothing concrete, although he is hoping someone will help the Steelmen in their hour of need.

Although Ebbw Vale have a loyalty agreement with the WRU to keep them in Welsh rugby's top flight if Ebbw fold, the agreement goes with them.

Harris said: "Basically now, we have to accept whatever the WRU offer us and Tony will present that to the board on Monday."