THE millionaires backing most of Wales' leading rugby clubs will insist to new WRU/Millennium Stadium chief executive David Moffett this week that they see clubs as the way forward.

Moffett has caused a storm by suggesting Wales should be represented in Europe and the Celtic League next season by four provinces, one of them controversially based in North Wales.

But benefactors, who met in Cardiff yesterday, have rejected provinces.

They do not wish to see their huge investments wasted and not only do they see the club route as the future, but they are also in favour of takeovers rather than mergers.

Only last week in the Argus Newport owner Tony Brown said that a combined Newport-Ebbw Vale team playing out of Rodney Parade would be Newport.

Also in jeopardy under the benefactors' plan are Neath, Bridgend and Caerphilly, while Llanelli would be the stand alone club.

The benefactors believe that their five clubs- Newport, Cardiff, Llanelli, Swansea and Pontypridd - could block any provincial move by the Welsh Rugby Union.

And they do not believe a plan for five super clubs would need approval from all the rest of the clubs in Wales provided Moffett agreed with their plan.

Next step is an important meeting of the WRU management board on Thursday when Moffett will be waiting for an alternative plan for the future structure of the game from the clubs.