Bath must destroy Wasps

Bath must take the opportunity to potentially send Wasps packing to the Championship, it’s been a dreadful season for Bath but maybe just maybe they could send some us Bath fans (and many other fans) into the summer with a smile on our face, if we deny Wasps a win and a losing bonus point then I believe Newcastle have it in them to beat Wasps and stay up.

I used to go to see Gosforth play when I was a kid, plus Falcons have almost been an unofficial academy for us. I thus have a big soft spot for them, my second team as it were.

Yet I would prefer Falcons to go down rather than Wasps - simply because I feel Falcons could rebuild, survive and thrive should they enter the championship. Wasps however would go out of business.

"Wasps however would go out of business!"

Oh well, let me get the violin

I think its academic that Wasps will be relegated since in all likelihood, it looks very much as they will go into administration and be deducted 22 points.

Schadenfreude tends to turn round and bite you in the butt.

A fan of a club that had operating losses of £1.8mill in 2010/11 and lost £1.2m the year before should be looking on rather nervously.

Save the violins for yourselves perhaps?

Equo Troiano wrote:I think its academic that Wasps will be relegated since in all likelihood, it looks very much as they will go into administration and be deducted 22 points.

Unlerss they go into administration before the end of the season, the deduction would apply next year.

LondonTiger wrote:Schadenfreude tends to turn round and bite you in the butt.

A fan of a club that had operating losses of £1.8mill in 2010/11 and lost £1.2m the year before should be looking on rather nervously.

Save the violins for yourselves perhaps?

Craig is here for the long haul, so no worries there.

I wouldn't bet on that.

His worth over £900m what’s a 1m or 2m loss, he earns that in interest.

He might be amassing interest on his money, but I suspect he's losing interest in the team.

Equo Troiano wrote:He might be amassing interest on his money, but I suspect he's losing interest in the team.

That’s his mistake for bringing in a rugby dinosaur in SIM, and for employing injury prone donkeys.

Get the right coach and players will want to play for Bath, Mallett would be my choice.

It's a long term plan, always has been. Won't be looking at leaving until the stadium situation is sorted. At least then, he can look at balancing the books for each year. Next season is the most exciting for him I reckon, as he can get out an unlimited cheque book for the marquee player

What happens if Wasps go into Administration. And a team that wins the Championship doesnt meet the premiership requirements?

Would the next placed team in the Championship that meets the requirements (Bristol) be granted promotion above the Champ winners?

propdavid_london wrote:What happens if Wasps go into Administration. And a team that wins the Championship doesnt meet the premiership requirements?

Would the next placed team in the Championship that meets the requirements (Bristol) be granted promotion above the Champ winners?

thats not how it happened last time. The team that won promotion couldn't go up, so nobody went up.

Something tells me that Falcons have been in this situation so many times and come away with survival in the prem. This is the 1st time that I can remember Wasps ever being in a relegation battle.

I think, now they have their captain back too that Falcons will win their head to head with Wasps.
A lot will depend on the round before that too - if either team can pick up a bonus point then it could be crucial.

Equo - I cant imagine the RFU/PRA allowing the premiership to run with 11 teams.

If Wasps go into administration then they cant continue to function.
Richmond RFC went into administration years ago from the premiership (back in the days of Big Ben Clarke). They were sent to the lowest league and have been steadilly rebuilding and promoting through the leagues since.

HERSH wrote:


Craig is here for the long haul, so no worries there.

A successful businessman knows when to keep investing and when to stop flogging a dead horse. How long until the call to the glue factory is made?

Bath should win the game, but I can see Wasps sneaking a LBP, which could be crucial.

HongKongCherry wrote:

HERSH wrote:


Craig is here for the long haul, so no worries there.

A successful businessman knows when to keep investing and when to stop flogging a dead horse. How long until the call to the glue factory is made? ;)

Bath should win the game, but I can see Wasps sneaking a LBP, which could be crucial.

It is isn't a business, it is a bit of fun, he has already said that. No one in their right mind would take on a rugby club as a sustainable business, unless it was Saints or Tigers.

Currently Bath are now dependent on the wealth of one man as they have built up a series of losses and sizeable debts.

While the problem may not be as large as that of Chelsea FC, things can change. Craig may change his mind, he may decide to take up extreme sports and have next of kin who do not share his interest in Bath.


If Wasps go into administration in the Summer, whilst still in possession of an AP place, things get interesting. Their value to any potential buyer drops markedly as starting next year with -22 points will not be an attractive proposition. If they were to go out of business I cannot see anyone wanting to operate with 11 clubs (last time we had 14 - Richmond and London Scottish folded and i think Rotherham were denied promotion due to their ground). I hope common sense would come in to play and the team invited to play would be the highest placed side in the Championship play-offs - so long as their ground meets all the H&S requirements.

You can't build a successful team overnight, the big mistake was getting rid of Meehan.

But we're are only three points behind Glaws we could still take them with BP wins agains Wasps and Leicester.

HERSH, the chances are we'll both lose all our remaining games!

HERSH wrote:You can't build a successful team overnight, the big mistake was getting rid of Meehan.

I completely agree. Said at the time it was a daft move letting him go for McGeechan. A big step backwards.

HongKongCherry wrote:HERSH, the chances are we'll both lose all our remaining games!

Well Bath are going to lose their last one, thats for sure.

Huge step, taken away the things that we were good at. 2 seasons ago we were the best attacking side in the league, that lost out narrowly as we didn't have a plan b or a huge pack to close it out. Now we lose games convincingly because we don't / can't attack and still don't have a big pack to help us out. Poop.

LondonTiger - We have always had debt, it isn't getting bigger, it is 'just' a 2m operating loss each year. Before Craig, we had another owner that paid off the losses each year. Until we have a stadium, this won't change.

Is Craig actually paying of the debt though.

I understood it was an interest free loan.

Yep, taking the hit each year, with an interest free loan, that doesn't require paying back. It's a way of getting around taxes, otherwise he'd be liable for gift aid tax.

But, should he die his executors would be duty bound to pursue payment.

Potentially, but you or I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and seeming as the bloke is 47 and in the pharmaceutical industry, I', sure we will be fine! I'm sure there are plans in place and I'm not sure that they would pursue £2m when his fortune is nearer to £900m and that's not including assets.

I am sure things will be fine - more so if the stadium can be sorted.

Just there is a risk. Perhaps more realistic would be the Allen stanford situation.

Yep, or an asteroid hitting the training ground. There's always a risk, but it should be the least of our worries right now!

HERSH wrote:Bath must take the opportunity to potentially send Wasps packing to the Championship, it’s been a dreadful season for Bath but maybe just maybe they could send some us Bath fans (and many other fans) into the summer with a smile on our face, if we deny Wasps a win and a losing bonus point then I believe Newcastle have it in them to beat Wasps and stay up.

Such shocking hatred - Was it the 2 Heinekin cups or the other titles that brought it on?

"Such shocking hatred - Was it the 2 Heinekin cups or the other titles that brought it on?"

No, I just don't like them.

Plus I'd like to see Newcastle stay up, just in case Bath struggle again next season.

Yeah what's wrong with Wasps? I like them.

KickAndChase wrote:Yeah what's wrong with Wasps? I like them.

But they're PESTS!

Plus I can't stand that chant.

'Wasps Wasps Wasps'

Will their transition into Administration be ......'uncontested'....

Equo Troiano wrote:Will their transition into Administration be ......'uncontested'....

Much of their debt is the £6.5m they owe Steve Haynes.

Equo Troiano wrote:Will their transition into Administration be ......'uncontested'....

I'm sure it was coincidence that a prop would take a knock when they needed to protect a lead and the only subs available were one of Worsley, Leo, Hart or some other tackling whizz...

I do think that if Newcastle go down, they have the structure to bounce back, whereas Wasps... who knows? I have never been a huge Wasps fan but I wouldnt take any pleasure in seeing them effectively disappear and amalgamating with their amateur team.

Ah, that was the reference. I am a bit dim today.

Mind you it was something Bath excelled at as well, going to uncontested scrums when struggling.

LondonTiger wrote:

Equo Troiano wrote:Will their transition into Administration be ......'uncontested'....

Much of their debt is the £6.5m they owe Steve Haynes.

Telegraph reported Steve HAYES is prepared to write off £10 million of shareholder debt to potential buyers.

Sounds like a bargain to me - if only I had some dosh!

C'mon Bath send the pest packing.

Falcons falcons falcons.....

So if Wasps go into administration after season end and are docked points for next season, does that solve the relegation battle for next year's battle for Premiership clubs? Will they be able to rest players and compete in the European Cup properly on a level footing with the Pro12?

Hersh, I thought you switched to Exeter. And now you are a Falcons fan ?I can't keep up.
Anyway, C'mon Glaws punish those sneak thieves Sale today.

Can anyone pm me a link for this match?

Bah its not even televised.

This is so distressing.
I really do think that if we get relegated, then we'll definitely go out of business.

The shocking part of it is that we could have such a good team next season if we can keep some players fit.

Forwards of Launchbury, Wentzel, Palmer, Poff, Haskell, Johnson,
and backs like Simpson, S Jones, Waldouck, Wade, Varndell and Southwell

That's the makings of such a good team..... they'll probably all get injured though

Newcastle have to win with the bonus point AND Wasp get nothing. I really can't see it happening so you're probably safe.

Wasps should be a top four team but have been so unlucky with injuries this year...they also regularly supply england with stars and next season could easily have Palmer, Haskell, Vunipola, Launchberry, Wade and Simpson and possibly others all pushing for england honours.

Newcastle have been dancing around the bottom of the table for years now and the days have gone when they offered the likes of wilkinson, flood, tait even and noon to the national set up.

I don't like to see any team go down but i really hope the wasps find an owner and stay up, next season they could be a real threat while I feel newcastle need to rethink their structure with the drop potentially helping them.

sirtidychris wrote:Wasps should be a top four team but have been so unlucky with injuries this year...they also regularly supply england with stars and next season could easily have Palmer, Haskell, Vunipola, Launchberry, Wade and Simpson and possibly others all pushing for england honours.

You obviously havent been watching them much this year if you think they should be a top four team. And as for regularly supplying England with players, those days are long gone.

Had the match been at Kingston Park, I would have fancied Falcons to win, but not get the TBP they still need. As it happens, all this may be irrelevant if Wasps' financial woes catch up with them.

Any team in the AP premiership would have struggled given the unprecedented number of injuries to Wasps players.
Even clubs with large squads such as Leicester & Sarries.

If those injuries hadn't happened I think it reasonable Wasps would be certainly in the top half of the table.

All the players mentioned by SirTidy will be there or thereabouts for England next season.

Not sure about that, see it like this.

Palmer - not guaranteed a start at Stade and behind Parling, Botha, Lawes in the England pecking order, with Attwood, Robson and Garvey all much younger and coming through.
Haskell - proven quality, but not assured an England shirt as back row is fiercely competitive
Vunipola - no where near an England shirt, might scrape into the Saxons
Simpson - probably 4th choice SH.
Wade, Daly and Launchberry - pushing hard for SA tour inclusion