With speculation that mass gatherings will be banned for a lot longer, is it feasible to restart to season, with contracts running mainly to November?
This would be an issue and may require the RFL/SL to prevent transfers until the end of the season. Not sure whether it is within the remit of SL/RFL to do this, but it would then be for clubs and players to agree a contract extension.
SL would be able to play behind closed doors to guarantee the Sky money, if not gate income. PPV may help to some extent.
Not sure whether it would be feasible for Championship clubs, who rely almost totally on gate receipts and sponsorship, to play behind closed doors unless some kind of tv deal could be agreed, which is doubtful. Or, if a vaccine can be developed and rolled out by September, which it appears is even more doubtful.
Of course, with the size of gates that some clubs get, they could probably exercise social distancing in most, if not all grounds in the Championship/League 1!!
This may not be the case, but is it a possibility that we are 1 of not many businesses never mind rugby teams that are actually making money through this crisis.
The 2 biggest costs of paying employees and ground rent (when we bother paying) both suspended. The vast majority of other costs would either relate to match days or running the back office, preparing and recovery all of which aren't happening.
I am sure there are still some costs that get paid weekly/monthly even when not playing e.g Insurance installments / debt repayments.
But with the guarenteed income from VIQI (If people dont leave). It is feasible we are actually making money? When you add that to the Sky money that I believe everyone got paid.
On a seperate note it would be good to understand exactly what the current membership of VIQI is, how much that generates a month and whether that is actually going to the club or we are keeping it back to invest at a later date.
Regards
DLM
Interesting, if the club staff and players are on furlough will VIQI be keeping the funds in the bank until we come out of it? Or could these contributions be used to top up the 20% of wages? I would be happy for my £15 A month to go towards topping the guys up by 20% if required.
Also given uncertainty for people at the moment it would be interesting to get an update on current numbers for VIQI, has membership dropped off? It's not the most important thing in the world right now, but it would be good for an update? Maybe it's sticky ground with the club entering furlough?