Redruth announce cuts to their playing budget

Redruth have revealed they will be slashing £80,000 from their budget next season in an effort to secure the club's financial future.

With debts of £50,000, the club has already had to cut back on player wages and accommodation costs this season.

Redruth's director of rugby Dave Penberthy told BBC Radio Cornwall: "The future of the club is paramount.

"It has to be sustainable to be honest if that's the position that we find ourselves in."

The proposed cuts were revealed during an open meeting at Redruth's clubhouse on Wednesday evening.

The £80,000 reduction in Redruth's budget will mean the National League 1 club will be left with approximately £150,000 to cover their costs for the whole of next season.

Penberthy said: "At this moment in time we don't know the financial situation of other clubs.

"£150,000 may be a top-end budget for this level, we don't know.

"It's going to be tough to cope with that because operationally we've got £90,000-worth of costs to come out of that, which leaves a £60,000 total to spread over 30 league games, and over a team of coaches, so it's going to be really tough."

The breakdown of the newly-proposed budget means that from next season Redruth's players will receive approximately £100 per game, a significant reduction on current levels.

Head coach Nigel Hambly said the changes could be difficult for some players to take.

Hambly said: "I know how much time and effort the players put in, these guys are probably doing 20-30 hours a week of rugby and you can't expect them to play for nothing."

Officials from Redruth were keen to stress that they are not in any immediate danger of going bust.

They have also devised a bond scheme allowing members to invest money in the club on a five-year basis.