ANGRY Pontypool fans were proffered an olive branch by the club's management team after their vital win against Cross Keys on Saturday. The Free Press reported last week how members of Pontypool Rugby Club's Official Supporters committee were planning to hold a petition calling for the removal of director of rugby Gareth Hale, boss David Gray and backs coach Matthew Keyhoe, following the team's poor season. The petition was called off at the 11th hour when representatives from the supporters committee were invited to meet with Jeff Taylor, club chairman, Arthur Crane, company secretary, to discuss their concerns about the club's poor performance.

Elizabeth Clarke, chairman of the supporter club and Alan Rice, supporters' committee representative for the club's management board, attended what they described as a "frank and very constructive" meeting, after Saturday's match against Cross Keys, which saw the team return to its winning ways.

Had it not been so, Mr Rice explained the petition would have gone ahead. In a statement the committee said: "The meeting with Jeff Taylor was very positive, it was a frank and open discussion.

"It is a time for supporters to back the club to the hilt in the final games of the season, starting with the game on Saturday against our old enemy Newport."

Mr Crane said: "We opened dialogue with representatives of the supporters club on Saturday after the win against Cross Keys. Chairman Jeff Taylor unveiled our plans for the future as far as we are able to and the dialogue will continue to avoid any future misunderstandings."