EXCLUSIVE: London Irish SAVED from Premiership suspension for now
EXCLUSIVE: London Irish saved from Premiership suspension for now after RFU gives club a one-week extension to complete takeover deal with American consortium
- Players were set to be suspended by the Rugby Football Union on Wednesday
- The club must prove that the consortium keen on buying them has the finances
- If they can’t, London Irish will follow in the footsteps of Worcester and Wasps
London Irish have been handed an 11th hour reprieve and have escaped suspension from the Gallagher Premiership for now after the RFU granted them an extension to complete their takeover.
The club had been told by English rugby’s governing body they must prove the American consortium keen on buying them has the finances to do so or that current owner Mick Crossan would be able to fund the team for next season by close of play today.
If they couldn’t, they would have been suspended from the Premiership and followed both Worcester and Wasps in dropping out of the top-flight.
All the signs had pointed to that being the case on today’s deadline day. But Mail Sport understands Irish’s players were told this morning the RFU have allowed Irish’s takeover consortium an extension of one week to complete the deal.
It means the club is safe, for now at least, and there is fresh hope at Irish that the extra seven days will allow their purchase to be completed.
Crossan is poised to pay the salaries of Irish’s players and staff again this month while the sale is ongoing.
More to follow.
London Irish players were told this morning that the RFU could yet allow the consortium an extension to complete the deal
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