WHEN recording the 1992 album ‘Yes Please’, the Happy Mondays were given a hefty financial advance and sent to Barbados so that Shaun Ryder wouldn’t take heroin.

Their record company had heard that the island was free of the drug… but Ryder promptly discovered crack cocaine was available there for a fraction of its price back home in Manchester.

The disastrous episode ended with the band running out of money, attempting to sell furniture from the studio and then holding the tapes of the recording ransom, tapes that music bosses subsequently discovered had no lyrics because the singer was in the grip of a new addiction.

The Welsh Rugby Union are unlikely to be quite so haphazard with their financial backing or as hands-off as Factory Records when they take over at the helm of Newport Gwent Dragons.

Given that the governing body’s chairman Gareth Davies used to be chief executive at Rodney Parade, they will be well aware of the problems at the region and the lengthy list of issues that need to be addressed. They must also believe that they are solvable.

If the Union are putting (more) money into the Dragons then it’s understandable that they will want a bigger say in the running of things after seeing the region drift and dwindle under the current set-up.

The WRU won’t just hand over a bundle of cash and trust those currently in charge to finally get things right. They will want to guide the ship and use their expertise… but how long will they give it?

Change is desperately needed, and fingers crossed it will safeguard pro rugby in Newport, but there is a nagging fear about what the future holds.

Sometimes the hope of better times lying ahead can lead to your guard going down.

The sporting situation in the city is grim at the moment and one has concerns for all teams that call Rodney Parade home.

That isn’t helped by the lack of information coming out over the proposed takeover but that is as understandable as it is frustrating.

A deal may be nearing a conclusion but things remain fluid with fine details changing. The policy has been radio silence throughout and that’s how it will remain until the ink has dried.

Nonetheless, that situation can increase the trepidation for naturally cynical folk like me.

The aim of the proposed takeover is to protect the future of rugby in NP19 for both the Dragons and Newport RFC but these are anxious times.

The whole takeover scenario has the feeling of a last roll of the dice and the WRU will make sure that their own stakes are not sky high.

There is a different regime in the capital with chief executive Martyn Phillips and Davies calling the shots but they can’t tolerate continued failure in the east.

“There is no way that I’d be able to stand here and not have a professional club in Gwent without knowing that I’d done everything I could,” said Phillips in January, a statement that offers hope with a whopping great caveat.

A doomsday scenario has to be considered and the spectre of North Wales will always be over Gwent while the Dragons are mixing it at the bottom end of the Guinness PRO12.

A big Under Armour poster over ‘Glanmor’s Gap’ at the Millennium Stadium used to carry the words ‘Protect this house’ but Black and Ambers fans are understandably fearful about their home not being guarded.

In losing ownership of Rodney Parade, Newport RFC will be footing the bill and losing their assets for a very risky strategy of a Dragons-only route, a policy that would lead to serious trouble if it fails.

Attendances have already been low this season, not even the policy (mirrored by most clubs) of announcing tickets sold rather than people through the turnstiles can mask that.

The hope is that on-field success will put bums on seats but that will take time and I’ve previously expressed doubts about whether there are legions of punters ready to descend on Newport.

Things cannot go on as they have been at Rodney Parade but we are being asked to take a big leap of faith.

Some have more to lose than others and it’s no wonder that Newport RFC fans are the most concerned given that a Geraint O’Driscoll kick could land on a school built where the city’s cricket club used to play.

South Wales Argus:

IT’S been a while since Newport Gwent Dragons signed an overseas player that didn’t necessitate a swift visit to Google.

With respect to Rynard Landman, Sarel Pretorius, Brok Harris and Nick Crosswell, only the biggest of Super Rugby fans would have had instant recognition on hearing their names.

Nonetheless, that quartet have certainly proved to be hits since heading for Rodney Parade from the southern hemisphere and if the latest recruit, who will arrive via Dublin, works out then we are in for a treat.

The signing of Springboks full-back Zane Kirchner would have been followed by plenty of nods of approval, even some jealousy from other clubs.

Sure, he’s 33 in the summer but if the South African was five years younger he would probably be bound for the Top 14 or Aviva Premiership, not Newport.

But Kirchner is still in good nick has featured 17 times for Guinness PRO12 leaders and Champions Cup quarter-finalists Leinster this season and should provide that nice combination of being a top quality player and also a valuable mentor. He is an elusive runner but with 31 caps to his name also has the low error count required at Test level.

If a platform can be provided, a back three of the South African and young Welsh wings Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt is mouthwatering.

Add into the mix the more powerful alternatives of Carl Meyer, Pat Howard and Adam Hughes, plus the burgeoning talent of Wales Under-20s trio Jared Rosser, George Gasson and Will Talbot-Davies and the signing of Kirchner could be a cracker.

More is needed but it’s a good start and some welcome positive news after some pretty tough weeks for the Dragons.