Bristol chairman Chris Booy has warned that the struggling Championship club do not have the current resources to restore Premiership rugby to the city.

After missing out on promotion in May, Bristol were forced to trim the squad.

And, with players' pay cuts and almost £1.5m lost in parachute payments, it raised doubts over the club's future.

But Booy now suggests: "The income structure the club currently has will not generate the funds needed to deliver the Premiership to Bristol."

And he suggests that merely staying in the Championship is now the club's immediate target.

In a club statement, Booy said: "Our current budget will allow us to meet our obligations this season.

"With what we have forecasted as the likely income levels for the next couple of years, we believe we will remain a competitive team in this league with a playing budget in line with the other established Championship clubs."

Bristol face their toughest test of the season on Friday night when they take on top-of-the-table Worcester at Sixways.

Worcester, who were relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, have won all of their opening six fixtures, while Bristol have won just once.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version