Rugby Football Union warned looming crisis could damage £15m government funding There are fears within the union however that a major deviation away from the recommendations of the review process that was originally backed by sports minister Hugh Robertson could also put in jeopardy the RFU's £15 million annual funding from government agencies. The opponents of Blackett's proposals are also concerned that a weakened board would disrupt the executive decision-making of an organisation that now turns over around £120 million each year. "I think this will plunge the RFU in a governance crisis again and there is a real risk that if the Blackett proposals get voted through then government funding could be under threat," said a source close to the process. Every organisation in the world must have a board that is responsible to its council but to be directed by the council or shareholders just seems extraordinary. In one fell swoop this would take a very clear step away from the good governance principles that Slaughter and May outlined. It would be a terrible step backwards. However the amendments, which include the creation of a new position of council chairman, are understood to have already gained considerable support, and 25 of the 64 council members have pledged that they should at least come under full consideration on Friday. The determination to maintain or enhance the powers of the council are seen by some to be an important bulwark against a repeat of the ruinous political infighting of 2011 when former chief executive John Steele was sacked after the failure to appoint a performance director. The subsequent tumult also led to the departure of Martyn Thomas as chairman and then later as acting chief executive. "There is a suspicion that board are trying to remove the council's right to veto the board's decisions," said another source. While both sets of proposals recommend a reduction of the board members from 15 to 13 and a tightening up of procedures, Blackett's amendments would see a fourth position created for a council member, in addition to the chairman of the professional game board, the community game board and governance committee. That would led to the reduction of the number of executive directors on the board from three to two, which would force the RFU's highly respected commercial director Sophie Goldschmidt to lose her place on the board. While the review suggests that board members should stand for a maximum of three fixed terms of three years each, Blackett's amendments call for board members to stand for election every year to a maximum of six years of service. The amendments would also allow for the removal of any of the three independent non-executive directors at any time on a simple majority of the council. Blackett is also calling for the board chairman to be elected on an annual basis, in contrast to the review's recommendation for three-year terms. Friday's meeting is likely to see some old wounds reopened after what has been a relatively sustained period of stability since the 2011 meltdown. The RFU declined to comment.