THE Welsh Rugby Union ARE cutting key development jobs in an effort to save money.

They have confirmed the accuracy of yesterday's exclusive Argus story that new group chief executive David Moffett is wielding the axe even further.

"Your story is accurate, but until the staff involved have been officially notified we can't make any further comment," said a WRU spokesman.

Moffett pledges to cut the number of WRU employees from 168 to under 100 as he tackles the massive debt.

He has made a number of people redundant, and is now targeting development, as the Argus reported yesterday.

District A (Gwent) development officer Chris Padfield has departed, with other district employees set to follow.

But most controversial of all the WRU are to stop contributing half the salaries of premier club development officers.

The WRU are believed to be close on £60m in debt, mainly because of the borrowing to finance the Millennium Stadium.

Interest charges alone are costing the WRU around £4m a year.

Moffett says they will not consider selling the stadium which he believes to be a national asset.

But in the ongoing saga about the future structure of the game, Moffett admits there is a problem over player contracts if the route is to be provincial.

"We accept this is an issue to be resolved," he said. "We need to know the extent of it to see how it's going to affect the way forward.

"We believe there is still a role for benefactors, it's how we define that, but we need to thrash it out.

"I don't see why we have got to go it alone if we can do it jointly, but it must be said the benefactors are most likely fed up with losing money."

Moffett is still waiting to meet club benefactors and is frustrated, though not completely surprised, at the lack of progress.

Today's meeting of the league management committee was called off after the clubs failed to agree on an alternative plan to Moffett's for four provincial teams next season.

"It's a bit disappointing but not entirely unexpected because I understand the owners have not been able to reach agreement," said Moffett.

"I'm not going to lose patience, I'll advise the general committee of the situation and get their views, but time is getting away from us if we are to get something in place for next season.

"I understand the clubs are some way from agreement, but hopefully they will come forward with a better solution and one which is best for Welsh rugby as a whole."