WRU to build on Moffett's legacy

Moffett steps down as WRU chief

Paul Sergeant, one of two men poised to take over the running of Welsh rugby, says out-going boss David Moffett has left solid foundations for the future.

Millennium Stadium manager Sergeant is to share the day-to-day duties at the Welsh Rugby Union with Steve Lewis when Moffett steps down next year.

"Whether people agree with what he's done or not, it's there for us all to benefit from," said Sergeant.

"He's done a fantastic job to turn this business around."

The WRU has such confidence in the new management structure forced through by Moffett, chairman David Pickering says there is no need to replace him with another chief executive.

"We've got a strong executive board full of professionals which is the think-tank of the Union that manage the Union on a day-to-day-basis in collaboration with myself and the management board," said Pickering.

"So there's a two-tier system that's been running for two years. It's a strong system, it's vibrant and we've got a good future going forward.

"We've got our budget now set for the future. We know where we are going and we've got great strength and determination to get there."

David's done a fantastic job for us and now it's a case of getting on with it Millennium Stadium manager Paul Sergeant

Sergeant has risen to prominence in recent months for his work in attracting major events to the Millennium Stadium.

He was instrumental in organising January's tsunami benefit concert and has attracted many other major acts and showpiece sporting events to Britain's premier multi-event arena.

Moffett's announcement on Thursday that he was leaving for family reason on 31 December was a "bolt out of the blue", according to Sergeant.

But the former Wembley Stadium manager is confident the WRU is strong enough to continue without Moffett, who Sergeant describes as his "mentor".

Said Sergeant: "We're pretty comfortable with where we've got to with the business as a whole.

"David's done a fantastic job for us and now it's a case of getting on with it.

"We've settled down to a working pattern between the WRU and the Millennium Stadium very well in the last 18 months.

"We'll take this opportunity to take some time out just to look at how we are shaped with David moving and what responsibilities are going to drop out of that for Steve and myself."