Fans demanding clarity ahead of crunch vote on Newport rugby

Concerned Newport RFC supporters last night held showdown talks with Dragons boss Stuart Davies over the planned Welsh Rugby Union takeover.

At a lively meeting at Rodney Parade, chief executive Davies fielded questions from Black & Amber fans about the long-term future of the Premiership club.

The WRU are scheduled to take control of the Dragons and buy Rodney Parade by July 1, with the takeover having been ratified at board level.

But the deal has to be approved by 75 per cent of Newport RFC shareholders, with an EGM expected to be held next month.

And it remains to be seen just which way the vote will go, with feelings running high among the Black & Amber faithful.

Supporters group Friends of Newport Rugby have been heavily involved in expressing fans’ concerns, with officials having met with WRU top brass Martyn Phillips and Gareth Davies, as well as Stuart Davies.

Prior to last night’s meeting, FONR secretary Kev Jarvis predicted Davies would be in for “a very rough ride”.

He says the key concern is what the future would hold for Newport RFC – current owners of Rodney Parade – in the case of either a yes or a no vote.

“If the WRU takeover goes ahead, there is no guarantee how long either team can play at Rodney Parade. Nothing at all,” he said Jarvis.

“With the RSA up in 2020, what happens to the whole thing here if there is a rethink of regional rugby and the Dragons fall by the wayside?

“If the Union decide they don’t need four regions or want a region elsewhere, what happens to Newport, with there being no long term commitment for either team?”

The situation is complicated by the substantial debts facing the club, with money owed to the WRU and the bank, as well as millions in loans from directors Tony Brown and Martyn Hazell (pictured above).

“A large proportion of the loans are related to the new Bisley stand, which Newport didn’t need,” said Jarvis.

“It’s disappointing that loans taken out against Newport RFC to support the Dragons are basically bringing Newport to its knees.

“Newport could cease to exist because of those debts accrued due to the Dragons and that is what gets people’s backs up.

“We need to find out exactly what the situation is with those loans.

“What we don’t know is how much Martyn Hazell and Tony Brown want back. They have said they will leave Newport debt-free, but what do they mean by that?

“We don’t really know their intentions.

“Our understanding is they still want something back, but we don’t know how much.

“What will be left in the pot for Newport RFC going forward, whichever way the vote goes? “Is it nothing or something?” Jarvis continued: “Martyn and Tony own something like threequarters of the shares and we are aware they could put Newport into liquidation if there is a no vote.

“No-one else other than the Union is going to want to come in to play rugby here, so if the ground gets sold it will probably end up in the hands of a property developer. “What happens then? “Our preferred option would be for the WRU to take over just the Dragons and to pay a lease to play at Rodney Parade But they have told us they won’t do that.”