Cash-flow problems and fixture chaos looming for clubs

Saturday's entire Championship and National League fixture list was wiped out due to the snow and Britain's icy travel network, leaving some teams now facing a backlog of up to four fixtures.

Harrogate in National Two North and Championship club Doncaster Knights have not played since December 12 and Rotherham Titans have lost their last three Championship fixtures.

Otley and Wharfedale were due to go head-to-head in a Yorkshire derby in National One on Saturday but that was postponed because of six inches of snow sitting on a frozen Cross Green pitch.

Due to a lack of available Saturdays before the conclusion of the division's season on April 24, the game's governing bodies are proposing the derby take place one evening over Easter.

Otley director of rugby Gary Walker said: "There was one free Saturday in March but that has now been taken up by the Tynedale game that was postponed the week before.

"At the minute, we're being asked to play Wharfedale on Easter Tuesday (April 6) because the RFU and National League Club's Association won't entertain extending the season."

Rotherham have concerns other than a cluttered end-of-season following two home postponements over the festive period.

They also have an away game at Bedford – postponed at the weekend – to fit in, but with no games played at Clifton Lane since December 12, the club's income has taken a hit.

Alan McHale, a director at Rotherham, said: "Everybody, no matter which sport, will have had cash-flow problems over the Christmas period because they are the home games we look forward to due to the amount of people who come through the gates.

"The RFU have brought January payments forward to December and that eases things a little for us and other clubs.

"They are doing their utmost to get the games played by February 20, which is supposed to be the cut-off point of the season."

Doncaster have lost their last four games and will have to squeeze 10 games into six weeks if the RFU stick to their plan of finishing the Championship's regular season on February 20.

Harrogate have also been inactive for five weeks following Saturday's postponement.

Midweek rearrangements are out of the question with many of Harrogate's opponents more than 100 miles away.

Graham Siswick, Harrogate's chairman of rugby, said: "Saturday's postponement of the Caldy game can only be rearranged for Saturday, May 1, and on we go from there with the rearranged games.

"That will bring some complications with the County Championship which begins on May 8."

Siswick is involved with the Yorkshire representative side which will be recruiting players throughout May when sides in National One and National Two North may still have to be completing their prolonged campaigns.