Wray dismisses fears of split over Andrew

Saracens owner Nigel Wray today denied Rob Andrew's decision to quit Club England, following the failure to implement his blueprint for professional rugby, signalled an imminent breakaway by top clubs.

Wray feels Andrew, the Newcastle director of rugby, had no option and believes the rest of the professional game should "pile in behind him" to ensure they get it right this time.

Wray was involved in shaping the Andrew plan but then stood back when it became clear the Rugby Football Union could not deliver. He said: "Rob is a decent man who has deliberately taken a decision that, in effect, says to the RFU, 'You have to get it right now.'

"I don't believe there is any point in having a breakaway by the top clubs because the international game and the clubs are so closely linked. If you have weak clubs, then you have a weak England side.

" However, if Rob's decision provokes a breakaway by the RFU and the professional clubs from the amateur game, so much the better.

"We need a professional structure run by a small board of directors. With that we could get on with building up the professional game and making it a very successful product.

"We have to get it right because we cannot go on shooting ourselves in the foot all the time."

Andrew's resignation highlights how frustrating it is to be involved in this long-running battle over the future for the game in England. If a man like Andrew is fed up, what hope for peace?

The RFU are facing a potential legal challenge from the Second Division clubs, who have refused to accept an annual play-off place instead of automatic promotion to the Zurich Premiership. Andrew's plan originally called for the top tier to be sealed off for a five-year period.

The promotion and relegation issue is the stumbling block that convinced Andrew to go because there appears no easy way forward.

"I feel very disappointed that the RFU have not been able to implement the Club England plan," said Andrew, who has also quit his role as chairman of the RFU Taskforce.

"This plan for the future of the International and club game was approved by the RFU Council on 7 April following six months of consultation. Nearly seven months have gone and still there is no agreement.

"The RFU have reneged on the issue of promotion and relegation and the failure to implement the plan is causing extreme financial difficulties for the professional clubs.

"It is totally unreasonable for professional businesses to wait that long for the implementation of an already agreed and approved plan."