James Haskell feared the worst for fallen giants Wasps as cash-strapped rugby union was branded its own worst enemy.
The two-time kings of Europe, like near neighbours and Premiership rivals Worcester, face a winding-up order over unpaid tax. The two Midlands clubs are on the brink of administration and with the top-flight elite collectively thought to be over £500million in debt, there is concern two or three others could follow.
Former England star Haskell enjoyed two spells at Wasps, winning the league and European Cup - and expressed shock at the club’s plight: "I hope it's not true, I hope there's a last-minute saviour to ride over the hill to take Wasps out of this trouble,” said the 77-times capped back row.
“Unfortunately, I think it's going to happen, which comes with a whole load of sanctions. My thoughts firstly are with all the players,” he told The Good Bad and the Rugby podcast's Instagram story. “Wasps is one of the best English Premiership clubs of all time.”
Under the captaincy of Lawrence Dallaglio, the star-studded Londoners won two European Cups and four Premiership titles in the Noughties. Those days seem far off now, as they wallow in debt in their Coventry home.
The truth, though, is that the club has always had to scrap for a living. In 2012 they were within three minutes of going bust: "It's very sad,” added Haskell. “But not unforeseen, unfortunately. It was always very difficult.
"Honestly, when you know the truth, what these guys have gone through, and what people have gone through in the past, to get the success, to keep a brave face, to keep the lights on, to keep the generator running…”
Steve Lansdown, who is owed £50 million by the Bristol club he owns, reckons the answer is for Premiership Rugby to generate more revenue: “There’s just not enough money in the game,” he told BBC Radio 4. "Central revenue has been on the decline in recent years because of Covid and lack of playing. Matchday revenue obviously dropped off a cliff with Covid and commercial revenue hasn't picked up.
"Rugby in a way is its own worst enemy. It’s a fabulous game and attracts great spectators and fans, but for people to invest into it, it's a passion. You have to go in with your eyes open that it's going to be bit of a black hole for a time - and that's the difficulty.”
But ex- Harlequins and Saracens boss Mark Evans disagrees that simply increasing revenue will fix the crisis - pointing instead at costs. And he warned that something needs to urgently addressed before problems spiral.
“Revenue generation in the Premiership has quadrupled in the last 20 years,” said one of the brightest minds in rugby. “And the league is less sustainable than at any point in its 25-year history.
“Driving revenue is not the immediate solution or problem. It’s costs - of players, coaches and administrators and until we seriously address that nothing will change.”
