Newport should know bt Thursday whether or not South African superstar Joost van der Westhuizen will be joining them this season.

The Springboks' scrum-half, capped 75 times, has signed a one-year contract at Rodney Parade, and is due to link up with his new teammates next week.

But the South African Rugby Football Union are requesting a development fee for him, which has cast doubt over the six-figured deal and given Newport's millionaire backer Tony Brown a king-sized headache.

It is also understood that van der Westhuizen has come under pressure to continue playing in South Africa.

And it is a possibility that SARFU could even block the move by insisting he plays in this season's Currie Cup domestic competition if he wants to continue with his international career.

The on-going uncertainty has overshadowed the arrival of van der Westhuizen's fellow South African Ian McIntosh at Newport.

McIntosh, the Black and Amber's new coach, oversaw training on Tuesday and will take charge for the first time in tomorrow night's Celtic League clash against arch-rivals Cardiff.

Brown, meanwhile, was today fully occupied trying to keep alive the van der Westhuizen deal.

"Newport contacted the South African Rugby Union last week regarding a development fee for their player, Joost van der Westhuizen, and it was agreed that negotiations would recommence this week once the South African squad had returned to South Africa following their final Tri-Nations match," Brown said.

"The squad arrived back in South Africa yesterday afternoon. Therefore, I am hopeful that within the next 48 hours we should have a definitive answer to the issue that has arisen."

If the move collapses, then it will be a hammer blow for Brown and Newport, especially as the club have been enjoying considerable success on and off the field.

His picture adorned banners around the ground prior to the Celtic League game against Caerphilly, and it would be a catastrophe for Brown and Newport if everything fell through at this late stage.

"It is like everything else in rugby - it's two steps forward, and one back," added Brown.

"We should have got clearance prior to this, and we have been after it for the past six weeks.

"If Joost doesn't arrive here, then I will be hugely disappointed. But I am not resigned to Joost not coming - I think that with goodwill on all sides, we can resolve it."