GWENT -- it should be a picture of unity, all sections pulling together under one banner to present a single front for the new face of rugby.

Instead it has been all disharmony, partly because of history and all the petty jealousies that go with that and partly because of so much political infighting.

I've been part of it myself with a fervent wish for Newport to play the leading role given all the infrastructure, all the facilities and the playing record of the squad compared with their neighbours.

Anything else would be utter folly, even more so after the victory by rivals Cardiff and Llanelli in their bid to stand alone.

The battlelines have been drawn up and in recent weeks it has got increasingly bitter and even a bit dirty with all manner of accusations flying around.

Supporters have weighed in big time as well. Newport have attracted the biggest gates in Welsh rugby for the past few years - as much as three times as all their rivals - so it is perfectly understandable that they don't want to lose their identity to be swallowed up in a larger Gwent force.

And such is the enmity between rival clubs that Newport fans are threatening to boycott the Gwent side.

But they are not alone. Pontypool supporters, for example, would not go to Rodney Parade to watch Gwent or vice-versa, and the same applyies to Ebbw Vale.

But there are some prominent clubs in the county who do feel Newport should be the dominant force in the Gwent outfit on and off the field.

While not going as far as Eddie Butler, now sadly discredited in these parts, the Valley clubs by and large don't like Newport for various reasons, though it's not as serious as Butler would make out.

They are seen as the big city club, and, as such, are resented in much the same way as are Cardiff by Pontypridd.

And in years gone by, Newport have taken the best players from all the valley clubs. Chairman David Watkins, for example, is a Blaina boy.

So against such a troubled background, it's going to be hard - very hard - for Gwent to unite under one banner, to spread the gospel throughout the county and to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.

But the one thing I would say about all these problems is that such big trouble in the ranks has arrived too late.

If Newport were to stand alone then club benefactor Tony Brown, the board of directors and the supporters should have mounted a major stand months ago.

Regional rugby is now up and running, and the most Newport can hope for is matches played at Rodney Parade with the colours predominantly black and amber.

They will probably get that, though Newport won't be in the name.

But it's too late - far too late - for anything else to happen now.

Players in the regional squads begin their new contracts in June which is only days away. They have to be paid from next Sunday.

Peace will break out soon because it has to. There is no other way now, so fans might just as well get behind the new Gwent team whether they are from Newport, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale, Newbridge, Cross Keys or anywhere else.