English rugby chiefs admit London Irish have a “mountain to climb” to avoid becoming the third Premiership club this season to go bust.
The Exiles, more than £30 million in debt, have been given a deadline of next Tuesday to prove their viability for next season or join Worcester and Wasps in being removed from the rugby map.
Irish have been linked with a takeover by a US consortium but the group, said to include former NBA and NFL players, has yet to provide proof of funds and league bosses are fearing the worst.
