New deal offered in Pontypridd buy-out

Cash-strapped Pontypridd, who went into administration yesterday, have been offered a financial lifeline by the Bridgend owner, Leighton Samuel, according to a report on the BBC website.

Samuel had originally offered to buy out Pontypridd, who have debts of £670,000, and take sole charge of the Celtic Warriors - the name of the combined Bridgend and Pontypridd clubs in the Celtic League - but the Welsh Rugby Union blocked the move because they want the side run on a 50-50 partnership basis.

Yesterday, according to the BBC, Samuel switched tack. Now he wants to buy Pontypridd's share of the Celtic Warriors, then present it as a gift to the WRU.

Samuel will have to meet the administrators, Grant Thorton, to establish whether he has first option on buying Ponty's Warriors share. If his plan succeeds, the Warriors would be owned on a 50-50 basis by Bridgend and the WRU, which should allay fans' fears that Samuel is looking for sole control of the Warriors. But all Warriors games would be moved away from Pontypridd's Sardis Road ground.