Western Morning News (Saturday)
Albion chief says club ‘will survive’
PLYMOUTH Albion chief executive Max Venables is adamant the future of the club is safe, despite the news from the RFU that competitive rugby below the Championship will be suspended until January 2021 at the very earliest, due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.
The RFU issued a statement on Thursday evening to announce that, apart from Premiership, Championship and Premier 15s rugby, no organised RFU, or non-RFU Leagues, including merit tables, adult or age grade competitions will be played until the New Year.
The decision by the government to postpone plans to return fans to sporting venues was the major factor behind the decision but, while the news is obviously a devastating blow to Albion – and all other local and national rugby clubs – Albion are in a healthier position than most to deal with the crisis.
“We don’t really have any reaction until we know what’s going on, to be honest,” Venables said. “That’s not me dodging the question, I have to get the players in on Tuesday but, apparently, the RFU and the FA are lobbying for support for sport, so until we know what’s going on with that, I don’t really know what else to say.
“It’s just disappointing but, what I will say is that Albion are in a strong place. We don’t have any major debts, so I think the clubs that will really suffer are in the Championship and the Premiership because they have huge, huge wage bills.
“Albion will not die. I think you will see some football clubs go first and then rugby clubs will follow after, but we will be fine for as long as we need to be.
“This new scheme from (chancellor) Mr (Rishi) Sunak is not going to cut it because their work is not meaningful as they won’t earn any money unless they are playing in front of a crowd. And there is no one advertising or sponsoring.”
However, it is not just Albion, their fellow rugby clubs, or even the RFU that are facing huge problems. Sport in general is in real crisis as reality starts to bite. The absence of people inside grounds will kill clubs up and down the country as they lose their most significant source of income and still have wages and bills to pay.
Some are better placed than others to cope, but the longer it goes on, even they will reach a time where any money in reserve will dry up leading to the inevitable.
“I think Exeter (Chiefs) have said they are OK until April, and they are the strongest, most profitable club,” Venables added. “But it’s not long, is it? Losing £1 million a month is a killer, but what can you do?
“I feel that sport in general has been hung out to dry with no support and that is not a criticism of the RFU because the RFU are in the same boat as us. They needed crowds back in for the Autumn internationals and they aren’t going to get it, so it could be a case of our governing bodies going bankrupt, let alone individual clubs.”
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has warned that no fans at the Autumn internationals will lead to no revenue, thereby preventing investment in areas such as the women’s elite game and community rugby.