The following notice has been published by the Chairman of London Irish Amateur RFC:
"Following the difficult and unfortunate news that our cousins the London Irish professional team have been suspended by the RFU from the premiership, the Executive committee of London Irish Amateur Rugby Football club (LIARFC) would like to remind members that we are a separate independent member of the RFU and therefore our own position is unaffected by this suspension.
"We continue to work with the pros over the management of Hazelwood and remain confident that we will be back for pre-season training in July and playing rugby at Hazelwood at the start of the new season in September.
"We would be grateful if you could assist in promoting this message and we will provide further updates as the situation unfolds.This is a difficult and unsettling time for all those involved with the professional club, and we remain hopeful for a speedy conclusion to the proposed takeover discussions.
"Our best wishes go out to all the players and staff members.
Yours in Rugby"
Kevin Flynn
Chairman – London Irish Amateur RFC
A report in The Times on 10th June gives a historical perspective and the current state of affairs for the professional Club:
"A considerable amount of public money is tied up in the three Premiership Rugby clubs who have gone into administration in the last year. Wasps, Worcester and London Irish all took loans of millions of pounds from the government, ostensibly to tide them over during the Covid pandemic, so there is some uncertainty over whether it will be paid back.
"London Irish, who filed for administration on Thursday, took a £8.2 million loan in 2021 from Sport England – effectively from the Government – at an interest rate of 2 per cent.
"It doesn’t look great, however, that London Irish Holdings Ltd’s most recent accounts show that their total owed to creditors is more than £37 million but the club’s assets only amount to £19.8 million."
