The proposals put forward by party chiefs on Wednesday would have paved the way for new Welsh Secretary Alun Michael to become Ron Davies's successor with Mr Morgan and the former leader of the Labour European group Wayne David as his deputies.

But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Morgan rubbished the proposals.

He said: "I wasn't a jersey warmer for Ron Davies and I am not a jersey warmer for Alun Michael."

Democracy the only way

Rhodri Morgan: "It is important that this decision is made in Wales"

He continued saying that there was only one way to settle the issue: "It comes in nice folding ballot papers and it goes right back to ancient Greece and its called democracy and its reached Wales but only in patches."

Alun Micheal: The leadership's choice

Mr Michael is expected to announce whether he will stand later on Thursday. He is the preferred choice of the Labour Party leadership.

Mr Morgan made it clear that he would not stand down if Mr Michael chooses to stand.

Quoting a recent NOP opinion poll commissioned by S4C Mr Morgan said: "Alun Michael has 4% of the Labour voters' support in the opinion polls, I have 36%. That is nine times higher."

Mr Morgan said he has asked several people which candidate they would back for the sake of party unity: "If you had 36% of the support of the Labour voters in Wales and the other candidate had 4% of Labour voters' support who do you think the party should unite behind?"

He said the choice of candidate for first secretary had to be made in Wales and if it wasn't "democracy and devolution would count for nothing".

'Team of all the talents'

Peter Hain: "The party is united behind this team ticket"

Speaking earlier on the programme the Welsh Office Minister Peter Hain stopped short of saying any individual candidate should not stand but gave his full backing for the proposed unity ticket saying it would combine "all the talents".

Mr Hain, speaking of Mr Michael said his candidacy would bring "the enormous authority of a cabinet minister" to the post.

He added: "The leadership of the national assembly is a big job in a big moment of Wales' history and you need a big figure to lead it."

He continued saying: "Rhodri Morgan's talents are considerable he is a big figure in Welsh politics. He's very gifted, he's held in great affection by the party, and indeed the whole of Wales.