There has been a lack of sophistication and maturity and that causes great concern WRU boss Roger Lewis

"There hasn't been enough straight talking around the table," said WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis.

"That impacts on the livelihood of players, on fans' loyalty, and on rugby's credibility as a business.

"We have discussed contingency plans with our four regions, but our focus is trying to save the 2007/8 tournament."

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Lewis says that he has been talking to the parties involved over a period of months and that he will continue to try to get the French clubs, the English clubs and the Rugby Football Union to back out of their respective corners.

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"We can't assume that sponsors and broadcasters will stand by us," said Lewis.

"There has been a lack of sophistication and maturity and that causes great concern."

The Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets each face a �500,000 deficit from their budget for missing out on Heineken Cup competition, not to mention additional money should they have made the knockout stages.

That has raised the spectre of possible player redundancies.

There will not be a European competition with just the English and French sides French league boss Patrick Wulf

But Ospreys joint managing director Roger Blyth insisted that there would be no impact on his region's planned big-money summer recruitment of Ian Gough and Mike Phillips.

Earlier this week, Blyth accused the English and French clubs of "selfishness".

When, on Thursday, English sources suggested that 'some form' of European competition could take place next year, fears were raised of a new Anglo-French tournament, excluding the Celts and Italy.

But Patrick Wulf - second in command to Serge Blanco at LNR, the French National League - appeared to rule that out.

"A European competition has to involve all the important countries - Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy as well as England and France," Wulf told BBC Sport Wales.

"There will not be a European competition with just the English and French sides."

While WRU boss Lewis remains determined to try to salvage next season's Heineken Cup, French over-commitment in World Cup year may make that impossible and he is looking at alternatives.

Contingency plans are being prepared to ensure that the money continues to flow WRU boss Roger Lewis

"If there is a hiccup next season, we have to make sure that the Heineken Cup comes back as quickly as possible the following year," Lewis told BBC Wales' Thursday night Scrum V radio show.

"But contingency plans are being prepared to ensure that the money continues to flow.

"We will look at how to fill possible gaps in the calendar and we have spoken to people around the world. We're lucky that we have the Millennium Stadium to help us."

It is thought that an additional friendly international with South Africa is a possibility, while games between the regions and Super 14 teams could be considered.