Let's assume you came in and bought the name. Said to the players, if you want a contract NEXT season, at £20-£30k only, how many would stay? If some had to be on minimal pay, like per game? So you kept the total costs down to below £1m a year? Other than Ealing, I suspect that is the reality of the Championship. I know the cheats paid full whack, because their owner could afford to drop £5-10m just like that.
But, outside of those already in the Prem, no owner can. That is the reality. Even IF we got back in to the Prem, an owner would have to drop maybe £5m a year for the fun of it for the first 5 years in. Not going to happen in a real world I think.
I think, with 10 clubs, it will be a closed cartel. But, I do not think there are 10 owners prepared to subsidise English rugby to that extent or more, especially as the majority of those remaining will repeatedly vote to up the cap, plus have 2, or maybe 3 marquees. Say goodbye to maybe 5 or 6 more, leaving Bath, Sale, Saracens and Bristol. Quins and Chiefs might be able to keep up, maybe not. We will call them regions. North (Sale), Midlands (laughably, I know, Bath), South West (Bristol) and South East (Saracens). All other teams would be in a semi-pro tier below, associated with those clubs, providing academy prospects and injury cover.
Truly a sad state, but, it is coming.