EXCLUSIVE: Premiership Rugby are set to hire an NFL-style commissioner to run the club game amid the financial disasters that have put Wasps and Worcester into administration
- Premiership Rugby are set to appoint an NFL-style commissioner after crises
- Worcester Warriors and Wasps have both recently entered administration
- The move would give the final say on major decisions to an independent body
Premiership Rugby are set to appoint an NFL-style commissioner to run the club game to prevent a repeat of the financial disasters that have forced Wasps and Worcester into administration.
Administrator Andrew Sheridan described Monday as a ‘dark’ and ‘devastating’ day when 167 players and staff at Wasps were made redundant.
Premiership Rugby Limited admitted their governance failures as they had no oversight of the finances at Wasps of Worcester, but plan to respond with a series of reforms agreed with the RFU.
Wasps and Worcester both recently entered administration amid rugby union’s financial crisis
One of the changes is expected to be the appointment of an independent commissioner, similar to the all-powerful figures who run American sports.
The move would give the final say in major financial and governance decisions to an independent body that could not be controlled by the clubs.
PRL are also in talks with the RFU about introducing far more onerous financial reporting obligations on clubs.
Although the final detail has yet to be agreed, one of the proposals under consideration is to make clubs apply for a license to compete in the Premiership, which would compel them to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds for the subsequent campaign.
The independent commissioner would run the license system with support from external auditors charged with running a financial health check on each club every 12 months.
Worcester owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have been widely criticized
The club was banned from playing competitive matches after amassing £25m worth of debt
.