RFU statement: London Irish Premiership suspension deadline extended

London Irish have been given an additional week to save themselves from being suspended from participating in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership. The latest extension comes after the club failed to pay their staff in full for May on Wednesday.

Having initially set a deadline of May 30 for the Exiles to get their house in order financially, the RFU had given owner Mick Crossan an additional 24 hours to meet the scheduled payroll.

Irish had originally agreed on Tuesday evening to pay this wage bill in full. However, an overnight U-turn led to the payment of only 50 per cent of each of the salaries due on Wednesday.

This part payment, though, resulted in the RFU allowing a deadline extension until next week for the club to complete its proposed takeover by an American investor-led consortium or else provide sufficient proof it can fund itself.

A statement read: “The RFU club financial viability group has agreed to give London Irish a one-week extended deadline to meet the original conditions as set out below and pay the remaining May payroll to staff and players:

• 1: A takeover of the club has been completed and approved by the RFU, with the buyers undertaking to provide all required working capital to meet the club’s obligations as they fall due for at least season 2023/24; or
• 2: the club evidences that it will continue to be funded to operate throughout the 2023/24 season.

"If the club fails to meet these conditions it will be suspended from participating in the Premiership (and other competitions) in season 2023/24 to avoid a scenario where the club enters insolvency mid-season, with the corresponding and substantial impact that has on players, staff, and fans, as well as on the remainder of the league.

“The extension, until Tuesday, June 6, has been given following consultation with staff and players who asked for the deadline to be extended to allow them to be paid 50 per cent of their salaries.”

Paula Carter, RFU board member and chair of the club financial viability working group, said: “It is deeply frustrating for all the staff, players and fans that there have been months of multiple missed deadlines. We are extremely disappointed that the club has so far only funded 50 per cent of the staff and player wages.

“However, we have to respect the wishes of those most affected. The 4pm deadline on 6 June is final and we have added the stipulation that the club must also fulfil its contractual obligations to its employees by paying the May salaries in full.”

An RFU statement earlier on Wednesday had laid bare the tricky situation that London Irish were in with the clock ticking towards the club's potential demise.

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

“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.”