Phil Dowson: Make Premiership a franchise league or clubs face oblivion
The Northampton Saints director of rugby, Phil Dowson, has warned that English clubs will 'sleepwalk' into financial oblivion unless the Premiership is relaunched as a ring-fenced franchise league.
The Times revealed last week how the radical plan to split the Premiership from the rest of the rugby pyramid would trigger the biggest change to professional rugby in England since the introduction of the league system in 1987.
Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, has endorsed the proposal by stating that promotion and relegation 'doesn't currently work' in the English game. Bruce Craig, the Bath owner, said that removing the threat of relegation would attract new investors to the league.
Sweeney's comment triggered an angry reaction in the Championship. One club's source said Sweeney had 'crossed
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