So, the Court case is on Monday. RFU seem to have confirmed that as soon as we enter administration, we will be relegated. They also seem to be confirming that the Covid clause will not be allowed, for us or Worcester.
It would appear that they are also prepared to a 10 team PRL top tier, and maybe a 10 team second team.
I doubt 10 teams will survive. With Wasps and Warriors gone, that leaves only 11. Expect three more to go.
On what basis? Is it a case that as there become fewer games they take less money, so it becomes increasingly harder for those on the edge?
From our selfish point of view is it best for several clubs to go, thus requiring a bailout to come into play. At the moment it will be an eleven team league. If 3 went it would be 8, would they then try and resurrect those fallen clubs in some way if they wanted a ten team league?
As you peel away teams to get down to whatever you think is viable, revenues decline. Sponsorship declines because the number of times the brand is seen declines. You lose TV viewership, already BT must be seriously considering pulling out, and the revenue paid by the broadcaster.
With only 8, or 10 pro teams, most schools will switch to soccer, for those students who want to have the possibility of income from sport.
Each club is losing enough money per year that it is equivalent to half (or more) of the player wage bill.
The fact is, it isn't viable at ANY number of teams in the league, thus only clubs with uber rich owners will survive. I can see us with maybe four clubs remaining, playing in some sort of Euro league.
The way the RFU and PRL are handling this (i.e. not at all), this is going to be a drip, drip, drip of clubs being served Winding Up orders by HMRC.
Some of the other club owners want this? Fine, let them have it. It will be worthless. It is like children fighting for the sole ownership of a Monopoly board. Once the other children refuse to play, finding better things to do, the sole owner is left sitting as Billy No Mates.
Right now, I can see Wasps converting the training ground to become the new club location, whack up a simple stand and clubhouse, job done. There is room there for maybe 4 or 5 pitches, but they would need a car park.
Always a Wasp