MEMBERS of a steering committee who want to return Pontypool Rugby Club to a voluntary members' organisation were due to meet the Welsh Rugby Union today.

The committee have a business plan to put to the WRU, claiming strong financial backing and the support of Torfaen borough council and say that if they fail to get union backing the club will die.

Moves are in hand to take the company currently running the club, Pontypool Premier Rugby Limited, into administration, thus postponing the winding-up hearing planned for the High Court on Tuesday.

But steering committee members told a packed supporters' meeting at Pontypool United RFC last night that they could not wait until the legal process was completed before acting.

"In a month's time, with no plans from Bob Jude (who runs the company facing administration) we won't have a side," said former coach Steve Jones. "The longer we delay the less chance we have of saving the club."

Fellow steering committee member Colin Tuckwell said: "We will not enter any bidding process for the club's assets because it hasn't got any.

"We have a plan to put to the WRU and if approved by them we will inform everybody. "We want to go back to a members' club, no owners, no benefactors.

"We are up and running and ready to go as soon as the WRU give us the all clear.

"We will form a management committee to include a member of Torfaen borough council and the WRU plus supporters and members' representatives.

"No official will be paid, it will be purely voluntary with every penny coming in going to the club.

"We will not spend money we haven't got and the books will be open for any member to inspect at any time.

"We are very confident. We thank the players for sticking with us and we hope everything will be sorted out by the end of the week."

But outside half Stuart Lawrence, one of several players present, warned: "We are here because of the history of the club, but we need to know what's going on in the next week or so because the players have kids and mortgages to worry about."

The WRU are due to meet Mr Jude on Wednesday.