Champ Round 7, Caldy Awaits while Debts Rise

6 games gone, an opening day slip at Rotherham, followed by 5 wins on the spin. That's not a bad start so far, I feel, although I still feel the Titans loss. A trip to Caldy on Saturday and you just know that the Wirral part-timers have been plotting banana skins, and preparing the bear traps! However, this Cov side can face this. Fingers crossed before Ealing (away) and unbeaten Worcester Warriors come to the NNS on November 21st.  If those are not mouth-watering clashes, I don't know what they are. 

Meanwhile, The Guardian article of yesterday, Tuesday, once more focuses on negativity and gloom regarding the Prem.  The headline itself should be an indicator of the issues that rugby, especially The Prem sides face. ' Falling revenues, bigger losses, higher wages: Prem Rugby clubs' debt climbs to to £366m.' Nothing to worry about there then. 
The results are from the third edition of the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report.  It makes for grim reading. '  The financial losses of the 10 Prem clubs rose from £34m to £36.5m over the 2024-25 season and combined debt levels increased from £342.5m to £366.1m  while the top flight's total wage bills grew from £125.9m to £129.8m , 80% of revenue.'  Astonishing. 
' The impact of this increased spending was compounded by a decline in revenues from £182.2m to £178.9m , with a result that 6 of 10 clubs are balance sheet insolvent with Northampton, Gloucester, Leicester and Saracens the only exceptions.'  Worrying stuff but, incredibly, there is still talk of a franchise system coming down the line in time for the 2029-30 season.  
Will there be any of these clubs left by then? 
As has been stated, clubs like Coventry can only do what they can to become sustainable, effective and stable. The Prem, I feel, is an unachievable pipe dream. More importantly, an affordable visit to any Champ club is to be encouraged.  Let's grow The Champ.