London Irish’s Premiership place hanging by a thread as club given 24-hour deadline

London Irish have been told to pay the May wages in full by Wednesday or face expulsion from the Premiership.

The Rugby Football Union were set to grant the Exiles a week’s extension to complete their proposed takeover by an American consortium.

That was on the proviso that the players and staff were paid by Wednesday.

50 per cent of wages paid

Matters were complicated, however, when current owner Mick Crossan agreed to only subsidise 50 per cent of the wages, with the rest due following the completion of the takeover.

“The RFU club financial viability group met yesterday evening. It noted the conditions set by the RFU had not been met and considered the application for an extension to the deadline,” an RFU statement on Wednesday read.

The RFU’s club finance viability group will meet up again on Wednesday evening to decide on the next move, whether that is to grant Irish an extension or suspend them from the Premiership.

“It was agreed to defer the decision for 24 hours to establish if the club is able to honour the commitment it has made to staff that they will be paid for the month of May. The group will meet again this evening,” the statement added.

Ongoing financial concerns

There have been concerns over the financial situation at the Exiles for the past few months, with Crossan having to step in to pay the April wages.

The club insisted that it was due to complications with the prospective takeover and that it would be finalised soon.

However, it has yet to be completed and there remains concerns as to proof of funds and the exact identity of the people attempting to buy London Irish.

Should they fail to meet the RFU’s demands and be thrown out of the competition, they would be the third club this season to do so.

Both Worcester Warriors and Wasps were expelled in 2022, reducing it to an 11-team league, with both also rejected entry into second-tier Championship for the 2023/24 campaign.

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