"The application process has now closed, and we're very happy with the applicants that we've got. We've got half a dozen people that we've shortlisted and we'll be interviewing them in the next two to three weeks," he said.

"We will then put a recommendation and a professional package to the board, in terms of the leading candidate, and the board will make a decision on that - hopefully by the end of this month. That will give the new coach plenty of time to look at his management team, and getting that in place, and getting his team selected for the tour of Argentina in June.

"The players and management team want to know where they are. It's tough opposition in Argentina - I know, I've been there as team manager. The new guy coming in will need the longest possible time to prepare for a tough, tough tour.

"Gareth Jenkins has put his name forward publicly, and we're very pleased about that, but we won't be making any comment on any other coach because they've decided not to make their interest public. We've started the interview process and it is on-going.

"We're moving on in Welsh rugby. We've got a World Cup to look forward to, including a quarter-final here. These are really exciting times.

"We've got a lot to boast about. We've got the Llanelli Scarlets in the Powergen Cup final - a new competition that we brought to the table this year. We've got a tour of Argentina to look forward to, with a new coach, and a  new dawn.

"The Stadium company is having record turnovers for concerts now - we've just got Madonna on board - so we've got a lot to be grateful for and to be boastful about.There is record investment going into the game.

"We're going to be disclosing fantastic financial results shortly. It's not all black - there's a lot of good stuff as well.

"We're going to have the most successful year financially that Welsh rugby has ever had. In three years, we've reduced our borrowing by £32 million, which is a fantastic performance."