David Pickering has defended the decision to sack Gareth Jenkins

Pressure has been growing on Pickering and his fellow board members to take more accountability for Jenkins' failings at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

But Pickering has defended the WRU's role in the affair and has said there will be no changes at the top.

"We have never flinched from making tough decisions and feel we handled it in exactly the right way," he said.

Interview: WRU chairman David Pickering

We believe there are seven or eight candidates across the world who are capable of doing the job David Pickering

"There will be no changes at the top, we are running the business in the proper way and the board are happy with us.

"We have been in down-times before and what is needed is stability, firm management and decisiveness, and that is what we are doing."

The WRU chairman said he was also confident in his own role with the Union and would not consider his position despite playing a role in the appointment of Jenkins.

He said: "People forget over the past three years I have played a major part in reducing the debt by �30m.

"I am confident in my role and I am very positive going forward.

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"I think in the cold light of day when people are less emotional they can judge me on my record, I am quite happy with mine."

Pickering also said that after five coaches in as many years the WRU could attract the right man for the job.

He also said the governing body would scour the world to find the best coach to take Welsh rugby forward.

"It is a hugely attractive job and a well paid job because the pressure and expectation these people are put under is so intense," said Pickering.

"We are encouraged that people are increasingly putting their hands up and we have a mandate from the board to get the right man.

"We believe there are seven or eight candidates across the world who are capable of doing the job and we will do our research to see who is available and who is interested, and will approach them."

Meanwhile, the WRU has announced a pre-tax loss of �2.3m for the last financial year.

The group chief executive, Roger Lewis, said the Union had taken the decision to pay a number of exceptional items, such as accepting that some debts owed to them were unlikely to be paid off.

The WRU said it was operating in a challenging financial environment and was now ready for rapid growth in the years ahead.