Threat Of Premiership Ban For London Irish
Rugby union club London Irish will be suspended from next season’s Gallagher Premiership unless the proposed takeover from a US consortium is completed by 30th May.
Should the takeover not go ahead, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has instead insisted that the club provides proof of funding for the entirety of next season to avoid expulsion from English rugby union’s top flight.
The RFU’s ultimatum is an attempt to stop the proposed takeover dragging on throughout the summer months and into next season.
Although insiders have been hopeful the takeover will be completed, the RFU’s impending deadline is now fast approaching.
The club failed to pay its player and staff salaries in April amid its financial troubles.
Mick Crossan, this current owner, finally took action and belatedly paid the players after the delay resulted in the squad almost boycotting their final fixture against Exeter.
Irish has reported debts of £30m and it remains to be seen if current owner Mick Crossan can afford to keep the club afloat next season if a sale does not go through.
London Irish is currently a tenant of Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium, which will likely make the club a less attractive proposition for investors, despite its state-of-the-art training centre which often used by international and NFL teams.
Worcester Warriors faced similar issues last summer and were allowed to begin the 2022-23 season before ultimately being booted from the league in October. The RFU and Rugby Players’ Association are desperately trying to avoid the same fate, despite the national governing body seeming to favour a 10-team league.
A statement from the RFU read, “If the club fails to meet these conditions it will be suspended from participating in the Premiership [and other competitions] in season 2023-24 to avoid a scenario where the club enters insolvency mid-season, with the corresponding and substantial impact that has on players, staff, and fans, as well as on the remainder of the league.”
Despite the looming danger surrounding Irish, Declan Kidney, Director of Rugby for London Irish, said, “These lads have gone from Championship to 10th, to ninth, to eighth and now to fifth. We’re planning for a rich future with the age of the lads out on the pitch, that is what we are building it on.
“There is a rich future for this club on the pitch and I’m sure the people off the pitch will do the business and see it through.”
