Paying players comes first for Sheffield Eagles amid coronavirus shutdown

The Championship side, a famous name ever since their 1998 Challenge Cup final win over Wigan, are one of many clubs in the bottom two semi-professional tiers who operate on a hand-to-mouth existence.

Life is even tougher for the Eagles given they are homeless as they await a new stadium being built at the Olympic Legacy Park in the Attercliffe area of the city.

Seven years ago they were attracting crowds of 1,300 at their home ground of Don Valley Stadium but on Sunday, they played to a crowd of just 323 at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium when they hosted Workington Town in the Challenge Cup.

Twenty-four hours later rugby league was suspended until April 3 at the earliest over the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are a hand to mouth existence but we have some reserves and I’m sure we’ll be okay,” said Liam Claffey, the Eagles’ general manager.

“There’s not a timeframe as to how long we have money for, it’s more a case of reallocating funds, we might have to look at cutting costs somewhere and putting it into other areas to get us through this period.

“But our main priority has always been to pay the players first, we’ve always ensured paying players first.”

Owning their own stadium would help. Sheffield have played in Wakefield, Doncaster and on the border of Rotherham in recent years, and were due to be moving into a purpose-built stadium at the Olympic Legacy Park this spring.But work has yet to start on a 40-week build.

“It’s especially tough for us playing outside of Sheffield. We need to be controlling our own venue, taking money from parking, from the bars etc.

“We’ve got a meeting with all the stakeholders about the build later this month and we’re confident work will start soon.

“It’s frustrating for the fans. A lot have become disillusioned. We’ve just about kept our head above water but we need something to happen very soon.”