Bridgend have struggled since their 2003 Welsh Premiership title

The Brewery Field ground they play at is owned by Bridgend Council, but the lease is held by rugby league side Celtic Crusaders owner Leighton Samuel.

Samuel has plans for a multi-sport community stadium as his club pushes for a Super League franchise for 2009.

"At the end of the day, certainly we do need help in every way," said Bridgend chairman Derrick King.

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Bridgend have played at the Brewery Field for 130 years and have produced Wales greats such as JPR Williams and Rob Howley.

They were also the last team to win the Welsh Premiership the season before the Welsh Rugby Union introduced regional teams.

Bridgend RFC is forced to rent the ground and the only revenue it gets is through gate receipts, but King wants independence to run a club house and sell advertising around the pitch.

We seem to be fighting a battle on our own at the moment Bridgend chairman Derrick King

He says the only way of doing that is by being able to buy the Brewery Field or having a smaller ground at the new development which they would run independently.

But if they cannot do either the future looks bleak, as King says the current situation cannot continue because they are not making any money.

"We will get through the remainder of the season and then we will have to sit down and take a long, hard look to see if we have a future," he said.

"We want to remain independent, I've got to stress that.

"I cannot see us playing in the same stadium as the Celtic Crusaders if we are in the same position as we are here at the Brewery Field.

"We still have no avenues of money and I suppose the threat (of going bust) has got to be there.

"If we have independence, we have a chance."

606: DEBATE Give your views on Bridgend's plight

King says Bridgend's problems are unique to Welsh rugby as they are the only club that has to compete with rugby league.

And he called for help from the WRU and the Ospreys, the regional team whose influence Bridgend now falls under since the Celtic Warriors regional side was disbanded.

"We are the ones who have to fight to keep our supporters and we're up against a very well organised organisation in Celtic Crusaders," he said.

"We seem to be fighting a battle on our own at the moment.

"But I cannot for one minute imagine a situation where the Ospreys or the WRU would not help us.

"Having once deserted the area when the Celtic Warriors went through, I can't see them walking away completely.

"We have met with the Union and we are hoping they will come forward in some way to help us to combat a real threat to rugby union in Bridgend."