Cornish Pirates players have now been told their contracts will run until the end of the season after the club secured new investment.
A statement on the club’s website confirmed that the rest clause in the player’s contract had been lifted and the team would be able to see out the season in the Championship.
Pirates declared at the start of the season that they only had enough money left to fulfill his contract by the end of December, with the money contained in Dicky Evans’ ‘sunset plan’ quickly running out.
In March 2022, Evans, the club’s majority shareholder, announced he would be winding down his investment in the club after financing Pirates for almost 30 years, but left £2.5 million pounds to secure them while he searches for new investors.
But the financial picture has looked much brighter as Pirates’ deficit has been reduced from £500,000 to £200,000, sparking fears that the Pirates could go down the same path as their former Championship rivals Jersey Reds and Premiership sides Wasps, Worcester and London Irish. It has been alleviated. Screw you.
Cornish Pirates CEO Sally Pettipher said: “I can add that the Pirates team has made great strides in its commercial development, having recently confirmed that break clauses have been lifted from the players’ contracts. “We haven’t crossed the line yet, but we felt confident enough to provide security to our players for now and for upcoming initiatives.”
Pettyfer confirmed discussions are ongoing with a number of parties over a takeover of the club, but the lack of certainty over central funding after the end of next season could be a potential stumbling block to completing a deal.
Pettyfer, relieved that his players’ jobs are safe, said they can now “sleep at night” but urged caution. “But that doesn’t mean we’re safe if we have these background issues.”
