Premiership

[doedin]

Looks like the Premiership is in danger if imploding with a few clubs really struggling financially including Worcester, Wasps and a few other unnamed clubs. Looks like they might need to off load a few players to balance the books and pay off HMRC? Anyone reckon we should grab a few of the SQ players to keep them playing at the right level in run up to World Cup? Sutherland, VdM to name but a couple.

[Pitfitter446]

Have we got spare funds?

[dolf_lundgren]

From a Scotland point of view it may be more of "can we afford not to"?

Im pretty sure that is what was behind Dell and Auterac, ensuring we have a bit of depth if needed. Im not sure how many players we have though that are important to Scotland and unlikley to get another deal somewhere if needed?

Bristol, Worcester and Newcastle seem to be the rumours and really only Jake Kerr falls into that category. Although McCallum and Owlett would be similar at WW. Duhan and Suzz shoudl be fine, Bradbury too I would think.

Bristol have a very wealthy owner who is invested in the city though, he may wish to sell but I cant see him letting them go bust, he is too persoanlly invested in it.

Wage inflation was always going to catch up, not sure where it leaves the salary cap discussions, but clearly its not doing all it is meant to do.

[doedin]

Good to see folk are still alive on here!

Im sure the SRU are keeping a close eye on the situation - we can't afford the likes of VdM and Sutherland to be unsettled or in limbo for too long and given the costs involved they might be willing to take a hit if it means these guys are fit and ready and in right frame of mind for the World Cup.

[dolf_lundgren]

Agree with that, but I think it is more likely to be the more "squad player" types who wll sturggle to get a contract, asalways in sport the top end players will be fine. It may be that Duhan and Suzz need to take a bit of a cut in the short term but its got to be better than not being paid.

Fin Smith woudl be the one to go for if he could be persuaded to play for Scotland.

As an aside, I see Duncan Taylor has signed a 1yr extension with Sarries, such a shame Scotland didnt see the best of him

[bignose]

Have we got spare funds?

If there's any spare money in the SRU then I'd argue that it should go to the women's squad before we start worrying about reacting to the failing finances of the English clubs

[Pitfitter446]

Reading about the owners/directors off the club seems their business practices seem( to me) seem strange, but then I'm no professional in these matters.

[The Chiel]

. Duhan and Suzz shoudl be fine,

What I read is that PRL clubs will not increase the salary cap if Worcester and possibly Wasps go to the wall. And I would expect at this stage of pre - season the other clubs to have spent and contracted up to the existing cap.

So to cater for taking on the likes of DVDM and Sutherland they would have to ditch someone expensive, or several journeymen. So even for those two it wouldn't be simple, and they'd be in a buyers market.

The Premiership sugar daddy model is starting to unravel.

[bignose]

The Premiership sugar daddy model is starting to unravel.

Not really. The ones that still have wealthy backers will continue to function. Worcester appear to be run by shysters, if the press reports are to be believed. Wasps have overstretched themselves and misjudged the hostile environment into which they jumped which made growing their business difficult. The sugar daddy model works as long as the sugar daddies remain.

[dolf_lundgren]

It workls fine for them, but it puts more and more pressure on the others to keep up. Meaning even well run clubs like Leicester and Gloucester can struggle and cant retain players.

Also very vulnerable to a change in situation, if anything happened to Bruce Craig Bath woudl be in all sorts of trouble, even Sarries without Wray (albeit they are less reliant now) would struggle, mainly because for some strange reason they haven't really grown a fan base despite their success.

[liveinhope]

Sincerely hope for players and supporters that Worcester can survive.
But in a worst case scenario I wonder if there would be any viable option for Duhan or Rory Sutherland back up here (or,perish the thought,Glasgow) this season? Not only are budgets presumably filled (especially as Duhan in particular is a very high earner) but it would be pretty disruptive for others in the "pecking order". Equally not quite sure how readily they could quickly pick up jobs at other Premiership or Top14 clubs with budgets long since filled for this season.Could end up being worrying for our national squad if they can't get regular rugby.
Ironically Murray Macallum might find it easier to get a spot back in Scotand as a back up prop on a relatively modest wage.

[Trophyhunter]

Agree on Murray McCallum . Suspect Worcester will get sorted . There is a lot of money swirling around in that part of the world , it’s just about committed owners/ shareholders vs asset strippers.

[The Feral Goat]

Not sure when the Japanese season runs but may be short term option should worst happen given salary caps elsewhere.

VDM was offered good money to stay at ER but was trumped with a reported £350k by Worcester which it appears they now cant afford.

All if buts and maybes and we possibly would not have signed boffelli, Skinner etc if we had retained VDM but for him, and others, the apparent security of a large contract has been pulled out from under them and with the land apparently sold off as well think current owners have a lot to answer for.

[Pitfitter446]

I see in the news a previous chairman and some local businessmen may join forces with a US moneyman to save the club, all up in the air at the moment.

[doedin]

Saw on some twitter thread that Worcester might be struggling to pay wages on time this month. This will no doubt unsettle the players and staff and I suspect a few have already got their agents looking out for new contracts elsewhere.