One of England's oldest rugby clubs is already preparing for relegation after conceding an average of 116 points a game in their opening six fixtures.

Manchester, who celebrate their 150th anniversary next year, play in National League One, the third tier in England.

But the club, who lost all 42 players at the end of last season, have scored just 23 points and three tries so far, conceding 110 tries and 698 points.

"It is pretty soul-destroying," chairman Les Davidson told BBC 5 live.

"All I can say is that the spirit in the squad, even if they are not good enough or experienced enough, is sky high.

"As long as that spirit is there, I am going to stick to the budget we have got and we will be fine."

Manchester, who own their own ground in the suburb of Cheadle Hulme to the south-east of the city, were one of the few semi-professional clubs to make a profit last year, according to Davidson.

Rugby union in this area is a massive players' game, but not for spectators Manchester chairman Les Davidson

But relegation from the old National League One, now renamed The Championship, the league below the Guinness Premiership, saw their income streams cut from £240,000 a year to around £40,000.

"We had 42 players in the squad last season and they have all gone," said Davidson. "We had to cancel their contracts."

Davidson revealed that a consortium had been poised to pump money into the club but that did not materialise, causing some upheaval and one or two resignations.

"There was a six-week lag where players didn't know if they were going to come back or not, and to be fair they had to make their own way elsewhere," added Davidson.

"A few are playing in Italy now, some have gone to our competitors Sedgley Park, others to local clubs in the area, like Stockport and Macclesfield.

"We only had four players to begin with before the start of the season, but we are starting to build it up now."

606: DEBATE Do you know of a club who are having a worse season? Have you ever played for a team in a similar predicament, and how did things end up? Julian S

Manchester failed to score a point in their opening two games of the season, a 148-0 home defeat to league leaders Esher and a 95-0 loss at Nuneaton.

They managed to score a couple of tries in a 145-12 home defeat by Blaydon, and another in a 124-5 loss at Wharfedale.

But the last two weeks have brought a solitary penalty in both games, identical 93-3 home losses to Otley and Cinderford.

Davidson is already planning for relegation at the end of the season to National League Two North, home to such other famous names as Preston Grasshoppers, Fylde and Waterloo.

"We will be playing traditional clubs who used to be first class but are not anymore, and that is probably the way for us to go," he added.

"We are in a region which has eight Premier League football clubs and where rugby league is also very successful. Rugby union in this area is a massive players' game, but not for spectators."

Manchester's next game is away to Redruth on Saturday, 17 October.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version