Hayley Parsons OBE, a leading critic of the Welsh Rugby Union, has hit out at the governing body and claimed Wales’ national game has ‘deteriorated on all fronts’ under the current regime, refuting the views of WRU chief executive Abi Tierney that she has led ‘toxic’ attacks on its leadership.The WRU have come under intense fire for their plan to cut one of Wales’ four men’s domestic teams by 2028 amid significant sporting and financial challenges. Parsons, who was a director at Cardiff Rugby until last year and is one of the country’s most successful businesspeople having founded GoCompare, has led the criticism, as part of a ‘coalition of the willing’ alongside former Wales internationals Jonathan Davies and Tom Shanklin.In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Sport last week, Tierney hit back at Parsons and Co, accusing them of ‘toxic tactics’ and insisting the consequences would be ‘cataclysmic’ for Welsh rugby if the proposal to move to three sides didn’t happen.In July, the WRU confirmed that Cardiff – who are owned by the governing body – and the Newport-based Dragons were given first refusal on licences to continue, leaving one spot in West Wales for the Ospreys and Scarlets to fight for.‘I have a lot of respect for several members of the board and my issue has never been about individuals,’ Parsons told Daily Mail Sport. ‘It’s about whether the collective leadership of the WRU is working and if you look at the facts, we’re now three years into the current regime and the landscape has deteriorated on all fronts. Hayley Parsons (left), leader of the ‘coalition of the willing’ has hit back at claims from Abi Tierney (right) she is leading a ‘toxic’ campaign to remove the Welsh Rugby Union hierarchy It has been a torrid few years for Welsh rugby on and off the pitch, with Parsons insisting ‘the landscape has deteriorated on all fronts”Criticism and asking for accountability given the current situation are not personal attacks and to suggest those questioning the WRU are responsible for falling ticket sales, sponsorship difficulties or damage to the Welsh rugby brand is quite extraordinary.‘Sadly, the supporters have been walking away for years and Welsh rugby’s problems were not created by the people now asking questions about them.’Parsons and Shanklin have both called for the entire WRU board to resign on the basis they believe they are not fit to lead Welsh rugby. But such a scenario is far from simple under complex governance rules.A vote of no confidence in the WRU would have to come from a minimum of 10 per cent of the WRU’s near 300 member clubs forcing an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). In April, that threshold was met but the clubs then asked for the EGM to be cancelled at the last minute after then WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood confirmed he would be leaving.That EGM took place anyway, with the WRU insisting it must do so. Parsons said the ‘coalition of the willing’ will speak to WRU member clubs to see if there is an appetite for a second EGM this year.The WRU insist there is no other option than to cut a team, but their critics have said the way the situation has been handled has been poor, also citing a lack of evidence for the decision. The WRU have said their decision has not been made easily and has been based on rigorous research.‘I have never taken a position on whether Wales should have three or four professional teams,’ said Parsons, whose previous criticism of both former WRU chief executive Steve Phillips and Collier-Keywood led to their departures. ‘I have yet to see any full evidence or business case required to make such an enormous decision. My concerns are around the governance, transparency and processes by which we have arrived here.’The only voice that matters now is the clubs. I think the public argument has now gone far enough. The clubs are the shareholders of Welsh rugby and they must now decide whether they have confidence in the current board and executive leadership to take the game forward. Now is the time to act. We are in a small window of opportunity. ‘Do we act now or live with the outcome until a further three years has passed? And where will we be then? Down to two regions and an even more inward-looking landscape? The Ospreys and Scarlets are now battling against each other to survive, with only one spot remaining for a professional team in West Wales’Over the coming weeks, we will be engaging privately and respectfully with clubs and asking them a very simple question – do you have confidence in the current leadership of the WRU to lead Welsh rugby for the next three years?’If over 50 per cent of clubs tell us they do, I will accept that democratic verdict and walk away. However, if 50 per cent or more tell us they do not and are prepared to vote accordingly, then an EGM should follow.‘I have nothing to gain from this campaign. I’m just using my own platform to speak out where others are afraid to. I desperately want to try and make things better.‘This isn’t about personalities anymore. It’s about the future of Welsh rugby and creating a future that ultimately belongs to its clubs.’