London Irish have today filed for administration, citing their suspension by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as hamstringing last ditch efforts to source a lifeline.
Tom Ilube, RFU chairman, blamed "unsustainable business models" as the cause for clubs collapsing into administration, twisting the knife by stressing that all three "have had fragile business models for many years."
London Irish owner, Mick Crossan, pulled no punches in expressing that he felt "extremely disappointed" with Ilube's comments that "completely overlook the precarious situation other clubs are currently in."
Crossan added: "Collectively, owners of clubs are working very hard to transform their models, but the lack of real support, at times, is non-existent."
London Irish finished fifth in the Premiership last season
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Crossan, who acquired London Irish in 2013, hit back at the RFU: “It speaks volumes that Ralph Rimmer and Chris Pilling have been appointed by the Government as independent advisers to work on the future stability of rugby union in the UK.
“The professional game in this country needs to be radically transformed. And the current leadership must urgently review its practices from top to bottom if it has a desire to see professional rugby continue in England.”
In an open letter to players, staff and fans, he said: “We have worked tirelessly over the last few years to develop a more sustainable business model, trying to tap into the Irish community, developing new revenue streams, investing in our fantastic academy to develop future stars, and of course bringing the club back to its spiritual home in West London after 20 years away.
“However, the reality is that professional rugby in this country is going through a hugely challenging time and after a decade of supporting the club financially, it is not feasible for me to continue absorbing the multi-million-pound losses of the club each year, indefinitely.”
The Premiership started the season with 13 teams of which 10 remain
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Crossan added: “Administration has always been the last resort, and something we hoped we could avoid. And we bitterly regret the difficulties it will present to each and every one of you.
“My focus is now on working with the appointed administrator and I hope that the club will come out of administration as quickly as possible.
“This development does not affect London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club, to whom we recently granted a long lease on the Hazelwood premises and playing fields, or the operation of the Hazelwood facility whose facilities are extensively used for the benefit of all types of sporting activities and for the wider benefit of the local community.
“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your commitment, passion, and hard work during your time at the club. I share your sadness and frustration at today’s news, and I very much hope the administrators, who will be communicating with you very soon, can find a way forward for London Irish Rugby Club.”
The future is unclear for the London Irish players
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This comes as the Worcester Warriors administrator's report reveals debts of more than £30million.
Worcester Warriors were suspended and put into administration on 26 September 2022, with Wasps Rugby following suit a little over a fortnight later.
On October 6, Worcester were relegated from the Premiership but finding a new buyer could yet see the club partake in the Championship in 2023/24.
No such leeway has been handed to Wasps, as the club has been condemned to start from the very bottom of the rugby union pyramid next season.
Wasps reportedly amassed debts of £95million stemming from a finance bond taken out in 2015 to facilitate a controversial move to Coventry's CBS Arena.
An offer to purchase the club was accepted by administrators on October 30 and on December 2016 the club was successfully sold, climbing out of administration and granted a promise to play in the 2023/2024 Championship season.
On 14 February, the RFU announced Wasps would play in the Championship next season, but on May 18 this lifeline was revoked after certain agreed conditions were deemed not to have been met.