Quote:NMB
We've just signed him up though right?
Quote:PV
The relegation clause is a bit of a conflict of interest and should never have been in the contract terms
Quote:PV
Fair. TBH we have some decent players coming through out wide and more depth than other areas, so if we go down and lose Joe and Lewington, we have talent to backfill.
Quote:jimbo800
Even if we did get relegated, joe won’t be getting anywhere near that England team for a while. I doubt he’d even get in the bath team. These players agents need to talk some sense into them.
Quote:Lincs-Exile
BM53 dont Bath ever get embarrassed at using LI as a feeder club for talent or are they just to lazy to produce there own.
Quote:harristocratt
Or even Gloucester.
Quote:Fanski
"It is fundamentally flawed to have relegation in a league when a few wealthy clubs can steal away others’ best young players as soon as they start making a name for themselves."
Nonsense without relegation Exeter would never have been promoted. Are we more deserving of a place in the Prem than Exeter?
Quote:Fanski
"We haven't got the money that Exeter do. Or Bristol. We're probably bottom of the 13 (including Bris). Relegation for a second time in three years would do a lot of harm to this club. So, unless you want to say goodbye to London Irish forever, I think appealing to stay in Premiership rugby is our best shot at financial survival - lets face it, the rugby probably won't keep us up."
I agree with absolutely every point you have made. I think relegation may be a total disaster from which the club will not recover. I will personally still be there to watch.
However, with players talking about playing too many games and the impact on their bodies the league is likely to contract rather than expand. If we are the weakest of 13 clubs where only 12 are in the top flight what right do we have to take the place of an aspiring club? Rugby has evolved hugely in recent years. Sport is survival of the fittest and if we are not good enough to compete with the others then we do not deserve to be in the top division. The league is not run for the benefit of our club.
The problem is that without our own ground and with a small fan base which I am sure attracts less sponsorship, a less successful team thus attracting less TV money we cannot compete with others in this league. In a ring fenced prem many games by November will be like friendlies with nothing to play for.
I would hate to watch that as it is pointless. I look at the some games from nations where there is no relegation and yes they throw the ball about with gay abandon but they are not playing with any pressure. Sport is about pressure and ups and downs and players making decisions and performing under pressure. Otherwise I see no point.
In a ring fenced Prem with no ground of our own and a small fan base will will just always be in the bottom 2. I see no fun in that I would rather we find out level be that on merit in the Prem or a lower league and see us compete.