London Irish have been suspended from the Gallagher Premiership with immediate effect after failing to secure funding for next season.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Exiles have failed to meet their 4pm deadline for paying staff and players. Consequently, they have become the third Premiership club to face suspension this season.
This has since been confirmed by a statement from the RFU.
Last week, players and staff at the club requested the extension despite only receiving 50% of their May salaries.
According to the Evening standard, as of Tuesday morning, the Brentford-based club had failed to complete a US consortium-led takeover first mooted in October.
The US consortium of ex-NFL and NBA stars has failed to come good on a raft of promises since first engaging London Irish Owner Mick Crossan.
Tonight at approximately 7pm, the Rugby Football Union is anticipated to release a formal statement.
This announcement will come after verifying whether London Irish have satisfied the two essential requirements they were given last week.
The RFU had two specific expectations: they either need tangible proof of the proposed takeover or a commitment from Mick Crossan, assuring financial backing for the upcoming season.
In the meantime, the players and staff are still awaiting 50% of their May salaries.
List of the Premiership’s five most at risk clubs makes worrying reading
All clubs in the Gallagher Premiership have been facing a concerning period, as highlighted by the Press Association News Agency‘s recent report.
An investigation conducted earlier this season revealed the dire financial crisis engulfing English rugby, with Premiership clubs accumulating debts exceeding £500 million.
Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the clubs’ latest financial accounts unveiled that Premiership clubs collectively owed more than £36 million in taxes, with only two out of the 13 clubs having a positive balance with the HMRC.
Outlined below is an examination of the current situation of five clubs, and the findings are deeply concerning.
#1. LONDON IRISH – TEETERING
PA wrote: “Burdened by debts of around £30million and with an owner desperate to sell in Mick Crossan, London Irish are shaping up to become the next club to be removed from the Premiership.
All staff must be paid on Wednesday for the month of May for the Irish to be granted a deadline extension for their proposed takeover by an American consortium. “
