CLUBS are being asked to commit financial suicide by agreeing to accept radical plans by the Rugby Football Union to streamline National One from 16 to 12 teams next season.
They stand to lose over £3m each over a five-year period, warns a damning report issued by First Division Rugby's (FDR) chief executive and former England coach Geoff Cooke.
Otley have already said that they may find themselves forced out of the e
lite 24 clubs under RFU plans to make them all fully professional but National One leaders Leeds Carnegie and Doncaster Knights have welcomed the proposal, while Rotherham Titans have expressed optimism that they could adapt.
However, figures released by FDR show what a huge gamble it would be if the RFU proposals are pushed through without any amendments.
The 16 clubs voted 12-4 to reject the radical restructuring, which would see the bottom five relegated and the National Two champions promoted to form two professional divisions of 12 clubs.
Following their vote, FDR put forward counter-proposals, which called for a significant increase on the amount of central funding on offer, but the RFU management board have now rejected them and are determined to press ahead with their original plan.
Former Yorkshire coach Cooke, who led England to grand slams in 1991 and 1992, warns in the report: "The clubs recognise that the RFU is the governing body of the game and has the right to restructure the league in a way that it thinks best suits the needs of English rugby.
"However, it would be foolish in the extreme for the RFU to believe that by forcing through their current proposals and creating the new 'Championship' without the support of the majority of the clubs that a second fully professional league will be achieved in the foreseeable future.
"Most National One clubs simply do not have the resources to contemplate becoming fully professional and even if invited to form the new Championship would not change their status. Indeed, it is more than likely that if the RFU pursues this course of action, many clubs will re-appraise their positions.
"The tremendous developments in playing standards and facilities that have taken place in National One during the past eight years will be stopped dead in their tracks and many investors and potential investors will have second thoughts about their involvement with rugby union."
For more on this story read the full report in Friday's Yorkshire Post.
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