Eastern Province clubs plan to call a special general meeting to pass a no-confidence vote in Cheeky Watson.

According to the Sunday Times, the EPRU president was set to be served a vote of no confidence at the union's annual general meeting on Friday, but it was controversially postponed.

This follows the financial crisis at the Kings, which has seen Saru take control of the franchise ahead of their re-entry into Vodacom Super Rugby. Players were not paid their October salaries, with at least three having to accept food vouchers from the South African Rugby Players' Association. Several players have since left the union.

The cash-flow problems began when a R200-million sponsorship deal for the Kings arranged by Watson, failed to materialise.

To pass the vote of no confidence in Watson, 36 of the union's clubs (20%) need to sign up.

'We can easily get that number when we meet this week and we will push for a special general meeting, where the no-confidence vote will be tabled,' one club president told the Sunday Times.

'We are dealing with tactical, smart but corrupt people here and I suspect underhandedness at the postponement of this meeting. For them to make the call at 4:45pm the day before smacks of underhandedness.

'Cheeky wants to push the AGM to February, knowing full well that Super Rugby would have started and clubs by then would have forgotten the pressing issues in favour of Super Rugby excitement.'

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