Make playing budgets sustainable

CHINNOR chairman Simon Vickers in his letter published in TRP on January 31 rightly points out the financial uncertainty facing all clubs and the proposed restructuring of the leagues in season 22/23 leading to a “super-relegation” year in season 21/22.

His solution is effectively to defer the restructuring to lessen the pressure on playing budgets for one year.

However, this does not address the fundamental problem that in the community game playing budgets are too high and out of balance with other areas of necessary expenditure.

The pressure for success leads to cash being spent on players at the expense of both infrastructure and the long term sustainability of clubs. This “arms race” is in no one’s interest.

I believe the proposed restructuring is to be welcomed and, as it will be beneficial to the game, should be introduced as soon as possible.

At the same time the issue of compulsorily capping playing budgets at a sustainable level across all the semi-pro divisions needs urgently addressing.

As a club we have put suggestions forward to the RFU as to how we think this could be achieved and we are happy to share these with any clubs interested (chairman@pgrfc.co.uk).

We urge the RFU to take action before we see clubs fail financially.