Multiple reports circulating that the EAs will not appeal as they fear the review may give rise to an even heftier fine and deduction, which offers up the question what have their consultants highlighted that would cause concern beyond the current position? In addition most major dailies are reporting that there is a staff meeting, players and officials on Wednesday, apparently to discuss the way forward. Added to the rumours that they will cut their squad, this will prove to be a most interesting week.
I can only think that if in contract players are cut then that would be a massive legal issue in itself, terminating a player who is in contract would mean severance would kick in and that would cost further millions, I cannot see them cutting academy products as Wray's defence is based on that aspect of their development programme and how 'kind' he has been to England. If any in contract players are cut (a massive IF), it would have to be based on those players who have the least amount of time left, however tempered with earnings as that will drive the severance number, which I expect will be a worry given the club's massive debt pile.
I do feel that in order for the EAs to recover any modicum of credibility from this whole disastrous episode, then they will suck up the punishment and have to make some sort of squad reduction concession. At face value Wray appears to be a confident and 'couldn't care less' kind of character. However given his alleged love of the game, I am sure that he won't want to be documented in rugby history as being the head of the rotting fish that is the biggest cheating scandal in the history of the English professional game since its inception. Will he even be there after this, or will a sword be fallen on?