London Irish Wages Paid after Players Threaten to Quit
Owner Mick Crossan covers overdue April payroll
Declan Kidney says he 'trusts' a positive resolution will be found. Picture: London Irish
May 5, 2023
A threat by London Irish team members to issue breach-of-contract notices has resulted in club employees being paid overdue wages from last month.
Their union, the Rugby Players' Association, had advised the squad to give a deadline of 5pm this Thursday (4 May) before sending out the notices which would have allowed them to quit the club if they were not paid within the next few weeks.
According to BBC rugby union correspondent, Chris Jones, this prompted the current owner, Mick Crossan, to cover the April payroll. He had previously said he was unwilling to do so as it was the responsibility of the prospective new American owners.
Previously it had been claimed that Bank Holidays and ‘red-tape’ had delayed the completion of the takeover and the payments but promises had been made that staff would be paid this week.
The team are preparing for the final match in what, given the circumstances, has been a very successful season, this Saturday at the GTech Community Stadium against Exeter.
Earlier on Thursday, before wages had been paid, Director of Rugby, Declan Kidney said, "The whole organisation of 130 people that work here are fantastic people to work with.
"I can't speak highly enough of the quality of players, in terms of their application and positivity. Everybody is getting on with the job and preparations are in full swing."
He acknowledged there were concerns but said that he and other staff had been given assurances by both the current and prospective owners and he trusted that they would come to a positive resolution adding it would be wrong to make comparisons between London Irish and other clubs that have gone out of business this season.
It is understood that the Rugby Football Union is doing all it can to facilitate the survival of London Irish having already seen the demise of Worcester and Wasps from the top flight of professional rugby in England.
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