Neath chief executive Mike Cuddy says he is on the verge of buying back the club from the Welsh Rugby Union.

As last night's deal for five clubs was dependent on WRU chief executive David Moffett voting on behalf of Neath, the news throws that possible peace deal back into turmoil.

At a joint press conference in Bridgend, Cuddy and Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel said they are backing a four-team plan which would see them merge.

Samuel and Cuddy want their clubs to merge

If the takeover deal falls through, then a five-club deal - with Neath joining Swansea and Bridgend joining with Pontypridd - has not been ruled out.

Neath were bailed out by the WRU five years ago, but Cuddy said a consortium has agreed to buy back the club.

""We have done that because we want a say in the future direction of Neath's RFC," said Cuddy.

"It is galling that the Welsh Rugby Union and Mr Moffett believe they own the club.

"We need a say in what's going on, that must be clarified."

Leighton Samuel, who has pumped millions of pounds into Bridgend in the past two years, added he had no appetite for a merger with Pontypridd.

"There is a lot to consider here and I am disappointed that the public perception now may well be that the Bridgend-Neath merger is off the agenda - it definitely is not."