Young: Heading for London

Young was on Thursday unveiled as the club's new director of rugby on a four-year contract, declaring that he had joined "a better team and a better club".

Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, however, as Young's appointment has placed Wasps on a collision course with the Blues that could end up in the law courts.

The 43-year-old, who resigned from the Blues this morning, had a year remaining on his contract and the Welsh region are demanding compensation believed to be in the region of £100,000.

Blues chairman Peter Thomas has threatened legal action against Wasps and Young if no payment is forthcoming.

Discussions are ongoing but Wasps have yet to offer any compensation - and chief executive Chris Thomas insists employment law indicates they are not obliged to do so.

"Our position is that we haven't done anything improper to entice Dai away from Cardiff," said Thomas.

"It was his decision to resign and accept a position here. He wanted to come.

"We'll continue to talk to Cardiff but at the moment we're happy with our position.

"It's a difficult situation. It's different to when you have a player's registration.

"With a coach you're in the same type of employment contract to anyone else.

"To pay compensation in this situation...there's no precedent in employment law to say we have to do that.

"It's no different to anyone moving between different companies.

"It's difficult to say where Cardiff have got this figure (£100,000) from.

"We don't believe there's any compensation payable in this situation."

Thomas revealed that Wasps will fight their case in court if the Blues choose to go down that route.

"We don't believe we've done anything improper and it's their decision if they want to pursue that course of action," he said.

Young, who won the Amlin Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup and reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup during his nine-year reign at the Blues, remains sanguine despite the threat of legal action.

"I've got no concerns about this at all. Everything's amicable at the moment," he said.

"This is a little bit of business that has got to be resolved and I'm sure it will be."

Although leaving the Blues was a wrench, Young had little hesitation in agreeing to join Wasps.

"It was a hard decision to leave Cardiff but it was the right decision, one made to go to a better team and a better club," he said.

"That was the decision-making process. I wasn't looking for another job. That wasn't my focus.

"But when I started thinking about Wasps, I got excited. I always wanted to coach in England and few opportunities come up at Wasps' level. I had to jump with both feet."

Since the heady days of 2003-2008 when they won four league titles - three in succession - and two Heineken Cups, Wasps have gone into sharp decline.

Tony Hanks, Young's predecessor at Adams Park, presided over a slump that reached its nadir with last season's ninth-place finish in the Premiership.

Former Wales and Lions prop Young has been set the challenge of restoring the club to its glory days.

"Rugby has a habit of going in a circle. It's very difficult for teams to be that successful for huge periods of time," said Young.

"Wasps had a quite extraordinary period of years at the top. There was always going to be a rebuilding phase at some stage.

"Other teams have probably stolen a march over the last year or two.

"But what has impressed me speaking to the owner and the board is that they want to get back there.

"They have the ambition to get back there and I'm happy to be part of that.

"A lot of work needs to be done to win trophies but it won't happen overnight."