John Inverdale can be seen at Moseley Road most weekends watching Esher

Esher chairman of rugby John Inverdale says his side are well equipped to compete in The Championship, should they win promotion in April.

The Surrey side, controversially relegated last season, now top the newly-formed National One, having won all but one of their 13 league games.

Inverdale told BBC Surrey: "A lot of the clubs in the Championship are having massive, massive problems.

"We have a cunning plan and I think we'll be all right," he said.

"More importantly, let's take every game as it comes."

The BBC TV Sport presenter was extremely outspoken about the re-structuring of the 'old' National One midway through last season, calling the RFU's handling "abominably bad".

As a result of four sides going down, Esher ended up being relegated.

But, while London Welsh, Coventry and Birmingham & Solihull have all run into financial difficulties in The Championship this season, Inverdale has one eye on what might lie ahead if table-topping Esher are promoted.

"Let's get there," he said. "I'm not saying we'll worry about it when we get there, because we're planning already.

"We're very aware of what the problems that might lie ahead might be.

"But, for the moment, we're concentrating on hopefully winning at Blaydon this Saturday."

Esher stand six points clear of nearest challengers London Scottish going into this weekend's round of fixtures.

The two, chasing the one automatic promotion place, are due to meet at the Old Deer Park in the middle of next month.

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