THE CLUB SCENE: WHO'S HOT AND WHO'S NOT IN THE CHANGING WORLD OF RUGBY UNION

BATH

Aiming to raise pounds 10m over next five years after members voted to turn club into a public limited company with corporate investors. Plans for pounds 10m purpose-built stadium. Wage bill expected to be around pounds 1.5m for first two years. Expect to have around 12 full-time professionals at start of next season. Struggling to keep top names. Comings and goings: Expect to lose Clarke to Richmond. Moseley want Redman.

BRISTOL

Looking to raise pounds 900,000-pounds 1m from share issue to members to help wipe out mortgage of pounds 300,000 on Memorial Ground and pounds 200,000 overdraft. Next season will earn pounds 100,000 per season in rent from Bristol Rovers FC (four- year deal with five-year extension option). Bristol and West Building Society backing has allowed club to introduce an incentive scheme for players from next season. Wage bill expected to be around pounds 800,000. Comings and goings: Awaiting decision to stay from England scrum-half Kyran Bracken.

GLOUCESTER

SGM expected soon for approval to become limited company. Ambitious plans for pounds 15m purpose-built stadium, incorporating a casino. The new complex would provide vital revenue. Looking for new main sponsor as Worthington deal ends. Expect wages bill of around pounds 650,000, but only half a dozen players expected to be full-time. Others will be advised to stay part- time. Comings and goings: Lining up the former Bath and England No 8 Dave Egerton as coach. England lock Richard West probably moving to Richmond.

HARLEQUINS

Following pounds 1.5m deal with Japanese electronics firm NEC they will now be known as NEC Harlequins of London. Expected to announce major corporate backer, who will be given shares in club but not a controlling interest for an investment of around pounds 2.5m. Wage bill rumoured to hit the pounds 1.9m mark; Carling is said to have been offered between pounds 300,000 and pounds 500,000 to keep him at club until 1999. Comings and goings: Have signed the Wales lock Gareth Llewellyn.

LEICESTER

Looking for wealthy minority shareholders to take a stake in the club, but as yet nothing concrete has been decided. Chief executive Peter Wheeler has had talks with Irish millionaire Tony O'Reilly. Likely to need at least pounds 2.5m share capital. With the largest membership - 14,000 - a decision to increase fees from pounds 48 to pounds 90 will also raise healthy revenue. Comings and goings: England flanker Neil Back still considering his options. Looking to employ 12-15 full-time pros.

NEWCASTLE

First club to go public, with some pounds 3m of Sir John Hall's vast fortune over three years. With the Newcastle United sporting stable to draw on the club is already earning income from merchandising. Comings and goings: Rob Andrew has spent around pounds 750,000 on quality players and is expected to announce another big name signing shortly, possibly France's precociously talented threequarter Thomas Castaignede. The club will have to service a total wage bill of around pounds 1m as things stand. Whole squad will be full- time.

NORTHAMPTON

Millionaire Keith Barwell made an initial injection of pounds 1m but promised more cash would be made available. A further pounds 400,000 is held on trust on behalf of the membership.Unlikely to maintain more than half a dozen full-time players. Wage bill around pounds 600,000 to 800,000. Comings and goings: Expected to attract some big name signings, possibly Olivier Roumat and Abdelatif Benazzi.

ORRELL

The proposed ground sharing scheme with Wigan has been ditched and instead the club intends to develop its existing site at Edge Hall Road. Outline plans include a new all-seater stand and new floodlights. There is no talk of going public and launching a share issue to raise capital, but the club owns everything and would have collateral to raise loans when needed. Comings and goings: Recently signed Frano Botica, from the rugby league club Castleford, for a rumoured pounds 50,000. The deal for the former All Black would have to be financed by the broadcasting share-out. No thoughts of maintaining a full-time squad.

RICHMOND

Ashley Levett's pounds 2.5m investment is being underwritten by the signing of numerous top drawer players. Looking into plans for new stadium which would provide additional revenue. If they fail in that, Richmond may ground share with a football club. Likely to have 12-15 full time professionals initially. Comings and goings: An announcement that Bath's Ben Clarke has joined them is expected today, along with Scott Quinnell from Wigan. Mike Catt may follow along with Benazzi of France. Adrian Davies and Andy Moore are there already.

SARACENS

Nigel Wray's pounds 2.5m has helped attract Michael Lynagh, Philippe Sella, Ireland's Eddie Halvey and Wales' Tony Copsey. They beefed up an already talented squad but still have to get back into the top flight. Ground sharing with ICIS Premier side Enfield until a new pounds 5m complex is completed. Likely to have a core of around 10 full-timers and a wage bill of more than pounds 1m. Comings and goings: The talented Diprose, Hill and Chesney certain to stay. More signings are expected.

WASPS

Membership expected to approve plans to raise at least pounds 2.5m on the Alternative Investment Market at an EGM on 28 May. Work begins this summer on the redevelopment of the ground. Expect to have around a dozen full time players at the start and a wage bill in excess of pounds 1m. Comings and goings: Suffered loss of key players when Andrew took Ryan, Bates et al to Newcastle, but the present crop of youngsters, including Laurence Dallaglio, pulled things around. Won race for signature of Alex King, and more signings are expected.

WEST HARTLEPOOL

Ostensibly the poor relations of the North-east, relegated pointless from Division One in a season which saw eight players, including captain Stimpson head north to Newcastle and Scotland captain Wainwright return to his motherland. A new 10,000-seater stadium is to be built, courtesy of the local council. Comings and goings: The chairman, Philip Yuill, has supplied cash to bring Ring, Moseley and Silva to the club.