Premiership financial issues

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Which Tyler
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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FKAS wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:57 amI think the Wuss players are being put up at Farleigh House in the short term until they can sort their housing situations out. I hope the Bath accountants have included that in their Benefit In Kind calculation for the salary cap. Must be a real bind staying at Farleigh for the players in the short term looking at the background for the interview.
Agreed on all counts - and I hope that Bath have run everything about these signings past the commissioner. Though I don't know that the Wuss players will be staying at Hotel Farleigh* - it's not exactly a lengthy commute from where they already lived, after all.


* We've had a few players in the past staying at Farleigh whilst sorting out their own accommodation, but I only know of players arriving from overseas who've done that - and they've been charged rent for doing so - though I'd be confident is suggesting that the rent charged would be nowhere near the market rate (though hopefully close enough to not be considered an unfair advantage.



One though I did have overnight is that Bath are financially stable, and may be willing to offer pretty lengthy contracts to these guys who've just been made unemployed - that may well factor into things. If you're a young guy who's just seen his club go bust, then a normal sized contract for 5 years from a club with a dedicated, wealthy owner is going to be appealing - even if you have to take a piss-take (but still an 80th percentile) wage for the remains of this season.

Of course, I don't know any details of any contracts, or how much money we had to spare under the cap, or any other accountings that go into these contracts. I just hope that we're fully above board with the commissioner, and getting his approval.
Last edited by Which Tyler on Sat Nov 12, 2022 9:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Mellsblue
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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FKAS wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:57 am
Mellsblue wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 5:22 pm

Could be the making of him as a player. Would be good to have a positive out of all this.

Major disappointment for me on confirmation he was being interviewed at Farleigh House and not at his new digs in Bath.
I think the Wuss players are being put up at Farleigh House in the short term until they can sort their housing situations out. I hope the Bath accountants have included that in their Benefit In Kind calculation for the salary cap. Must be a real bind staying at Farleigh for the players in the short term looking at the background for the interview.
Lawrence says in the interview they’re camping out at Farleigh…
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Which Tyler
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by Which Tyler »

Mellsblue wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 9:10 amLawrence says in the interview they’re camping out at Farleigh…
Fair enough then
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by FKAS »

Which Tyler wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 9:09 am
FKAS wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:57 amI think the Wuss players are being put up at Farleigh House in the short term until they can sort their housing situations out. I hope the Bath accountants have included that in their Benefit In Kind calculation for the salary cap. Must be a real bind staying at Farleigh for the players in the short term looking at the background for the interview.
Agreed on all counts - and I hope that Bath have run everything about these signings past the commissioner. Though I don't know that the Wuss players will be staying at Hotel Farleigh* - it's not exactly a lengthy commute from where they already lived, after all.


* We've had a few players in the past staying at Farleigh whilst sorting out their own accommodation, but I only know of players arriving from overseas who've done that - and they've been charged rent for doing so - though I'd be confident is suggesting that the rent charged would be nowhere near the market rate (though hopefully close enough to not be considered an unfair advantage.



One though I did have overnight is that Bath are financially stable, and may be willing to offer pretty lengthy contracts to these guys who've just been made unemployed - that may well factor into things. If you're a young guy who's just seen his club go bust, then a normal sized contract for 5 years from a club with a dedicated, wealthy owner is going to be appealing - even if you have to take a piss-take (but still an 80th percentile) wage for the remains of this season.

Of course, I don't know any details of any contracts, or how much money we had to spare under the cap, or any other accountings that go into these contracts. I just hope that we're fully above board with the commissioner, and getting his approval.
I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were looking for security over earning potential at present. With the lowered salary cap there's already been a number of players moving around or having to accept lower wages. That was before the financial mess started.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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FKAS
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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Playing out the same stadium might make it easier for both to manage the financial burden of a the ground in the current financial climate. Can't see an appetite for merging with both clubs having different preferred buyers.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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Worcester's dubiously a big enough city to support one professional rugby club, let alone two. I can't see that working at all.

It's the problem that I mentioned earlier - what geographical zone do Wasps represent. They unmoored themselves by moving to Coventry (an argument could be made that it began with moving to Wycombe) and now they're just a brand. The only option I can see is moving to London - nowhere else can reasonably be called home and the environment in the UK isn't a fertile one for setting up a pop-up rugby club in a new area - but that's easier said than done. See if QPR fancy a lodger again?

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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by FKAS »

Queens Park fancy their chances at promotion to the Prem sometime soon. Might make things complicated. Leyton Orient or Charlton might be better bets. Leyton Orient's ground falls narrowly short of the 10k capacity but without having to keep the fans separated that might increase and be enough.

Have Wasps kept hold of the training facility up in Warwickshire? If so they could have their HQ there and just travel down to the games. Just have a virtual club shop with a game day pop up.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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FKAS wrote: Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:28 pm Queens Park fancy their chances at promotion to the Prem sometime soon. Might make things complicated. Leyton Orient or Charlton might be better bets. Leyton Orient's ground falls narrowly short of the 10k capacity but without having to keep the fans separated that might increase and be enough.

Have Wasps kept hold of the training facility up in Warwickshire? If so they could have their HQ there and just travel down to the games. Just have a virtual club shop with a game day pop up.
Yeah, right. lol.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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Stom wrote: Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:13 pm
FKAS wrote: Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:28 pm Queens Park fancy their chances at promotion to the Prem sometime soon. Might make things complicated. Leyton Orient or Charlton might be better bets. Leyton Orient's ground falls narrowly short of the 10k capacity but without having to keep the fans separated that might increase and be enough.

Have Wasps kept hold of the training facility up in Warwickshire? If so they could have their HQ there and just travel down to the games. Just have a virtual club shop with a game day pop up.
Yeah, right. lol.
They're 7th currently a couple of points off of fourth. They also might be aiming for the Prem, doesn't mean they'll get there but it does mean they won't fancy a stadium share with a rugby club.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by Mellsblue »

Don’t Premier League Brentford FC share a stadium with London Irish?
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by FKAS »

Fair point Mels. Maybe QPR might fancy it. I'd assumed both clubs wanting primacy of tenure for the TV coverage would be awkward but you're right LI and Brentford manage it.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by Banquo »

Wasps £95m in debt according to beeb, inc a big chunk of covid loans.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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London Irish staff, including players, not paid for April…
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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Mellsblue wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 7:54 am London Irish staff, including players, not paid for April…
i thought there was a buy out in progress and the in-coming owners were paying the wages?? Not good if true...

Where did you hear this? A quick googlw shows a Mail story (28th) that they wont be paid & then a response on the 29th from l.I that they will.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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jimKRFC wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 8:02 am
Mellsblue wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 7:54 am London Irish staff, including players, not paid for April…
i thought there was a buy out in progress and the in-coming owners were paying the wages?? Not good if true...

Where did you hear this? A quick googlw shows a Mail story (28th) that they wont be paid & then a response on the 29th from l.I that they will.
The consortium paid for March but not April despite saying they would.

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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by jimKRFC »

A poster on the L.I forum has said that Talksport (not sure if callers or host) said that L.I were filling for administration. Seems unlikely to me...

Stand out point in that article for me those is:

Premiership Rugby is working to relaunch the league in 2024 as a ten-team competition, removing clashes with Test matches to ensure England players are available more often.

Promotion and relegation was due to return at the end of next season, via a play-off between the bottom side in the Premiership and the Championship winners, but that is now highly unlikely to happen.


More news of concern for Bristol though in that talks to sell Bristol City are taking place - https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... source=nba

No idea what that would mean for the rugby teams and basket ball though...
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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They could be down to nine teams if LI go under and some of the, unreliably sourced, rumours from Newcastle are true.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by jimKRFC »

Mellsblue wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 9:57 am They could be down to nine teams if LI go under and some of the, unreliably sourced, rumours from Newcastle are true.
Let wasps up obvs....
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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jimKRFC wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 9:59 am
Mellsblue wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 9:57 am They could be down to nine teams if LI go under and some of the, unreliably sourced, rumours from Newcastle are true.
Let wasps up obvs....
That would be peak RFU!
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by FKAS »

Lots of rumours around Falcons but they are always firmly rebuffed. Their owner has always been good at cutting their cloth accordingly. They are struggling but it's not like Wasps where there's an obvious millstone round their neck, Wuss where the owners are cowboys or LI who was spent to be competitive.

Is also much prefer for the RFU to offer Falcons a helping hand than Wasps. Wasps are always in trouble and play in an area where there's other clubs. Falcons are a lonely bastion in the North East and there's plenty of talent up there.
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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LI have been talking to afc Wimbledon about a ground share Abbas having discussions with Brentford about breaking the contract to share the gtech. Rumor is that Brentford want li out and there’s a potential £2.5m payoff for li if we (Brentford) do kick them out.

Would be a nice lump sum for LI
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Re: Premiership financial issues

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Stom wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 4:28 pm LI have been talking to afc Wimbledon about a ground share Abbas having discussions with Brentford about breaking the contract to share the gtech. Rumor is that Brentford want li out and there’s a potential £2.5m payoff for li if we (Brentford) do kick them out.

Would be a nice lump sum for LI
https://archive.is/fyYbp

Sounds like they need it pronto
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by fivepointer »

Shame. LI looked like they were getting nicely set at Brentford. Moving to Wimbledon could be interesting. I watched football at the old Plough Lane many years ago!
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Re: Premiership financial issues

Post by FKAS »

Stom wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 4:28 pm LI have been talking to afc Wimbledon about a ground share Abbas having discussions with Brentford about breaking the contract to share the gtech. Rumor is that Brentford want li out and there’s a potential £2.5m payoff for li if we (Brentford) do kick them out.

Would be a nice lump sum for LI
I bet they could probably get it for less of they made a quick payment right now
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