Wasps mutiny! England stars Elliot Daly and Joe Launchbury set to leave over 'broken promises' on training facilities and contracts
By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail
- Wasps resume their Premiership title challenge against Northampton on Sunday
- But Coventry-based side face growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars
- Players unhappy as they were promised state-of-the-art training facilities in 2014
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Wasps face the growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars, with a mutinous mood in the squad over ‘broken promises’ relating to late payments and new facilities.
Coventry-based Wasps resume their Premiership title challenge on Sunday when they meet Northampton at the Ricoh Arena but there is serious unrest behind the scenes.
Patience is thin, caused by a lack of anticipated investment against a backdrop of financial turmoil. This jars with the perception that the club are enjoying a new era of prosperity.
+4
Wasps face the growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars like Elliot Daly
Sportsmail has learned that marquee players such as Elliot Daly, Joe Launchbury and Christian Wade are expected to leave when their contracts expire unless Wasps address their grievances. Sources have indicated that the discontent and resentment have become so heightened that some fear there will be a flashpoint before most of those deals run out.
The primary gripes among players and coaching staff relate to inadequate training facilities and the backlog in image-rights payments, which are thought to account for about 15 per cent of overall salaries.
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Wasps moved to Coventry at the end of 2014, and owner Derek Richardson pledged that they would have to use a temporary training base for only six months, before a new, state-of-the-art HQ was ready.
Three years on, two sites which were identified have been ditched and a new location is being sought. The message from the hierarchy is that it will be at least another two years before they no longer have to act as reluctant squatters in the basic surroundings at Broadstreet RFC.
+4
Players were promised state of the art training facilities when they moved to Coventry in 2014
There, the supposedly wealthy club have portable cabins serving as offices in the car park. They share changing rooms with Broadstreet teams and use the clubhouse for lunch — ‘It’s like eating in a pub every day we are training,’ said one player.
Outside, Wasps have only one pitch and players have voiced concerns that the tired surface is contributing to a run of injuries.
Misgivings have also been expressed about the state of the pitch at the Ricoh Arena but nothing had been done about it. Instead, urgent work had to be carried out when cracks were found in the walls of the stadium last month.
Sportsmail has been told that image-rights payments were not made to Wasps players for two years. That problem was addressed earlier this season but now it is understood payments are six months in arrears again.
+4
Players could leave when their contracts expire unless Wasps address their grievances
There is a widespread feeling that all areas of expenditure are under pressure and that the academy is being denied vital investment in favour of ‘window dressing’.
Another grievance within the squad was the handling of Sam Jones’s premature retirement. The flanker, who suffered career-ending injuries performing judo drills training with England in 2016, was upset that his wages were halted immediately he announced he had to stop playing.
Team-mates were angry but the board argued that he had been paid in full for 17 months while rehabilitating, when a contract only requires wages to remain at normal levels for six months of inactivity. Still, the saga served to further strain morale — not helped by poor communication between the powers-that-be and the players.
Unrest behind the scenes comes at a time of financial turbulence. Wasps launched a bond scheme in 2015, which yielded £35million, but they owe £2m in interest each year and must settle the debt in full in four years’ time.
+4
Players have voiced concerns that the tired surface is contributing to a run of injuries
Doubts have been expressed by independent experts about their ability to do so, with claims that the club will need to refinance.
At the end of last year, Wasps were forced to seek permission from bond holders to break the terms of the deal after Richardson made a personal payment to make up for a shortfall in the scheme.
Last month, it was reported that Wasps’ financial statements were three months overdue and that Companies House were taking enforcement action against what amounts to a criminal offence.
While the public see a club riding high, with a viable home of their own at last, a title-chasing team and box-office appeal, the reality is that all is not well. It has been suggested that Wasps are at a crossroads and that without the right investment, the feared exodus will happen.
Read more: England stars Daly and Launchbury set to leave Wasps over 'broken promises' | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Some worried comments on drunken drivel
It'll appear as a counter story. Nothing to worry about as Wasps wanted rid of Daly etc anywayI wonder when this story will appear in the local rag
Plot Twist: Dale Evans to get introduced as a potential new Wasps investor after his numerous CCFC takeover attempts have been thwarted.
I magnet fish, pull up mostly shit. Hardly anything of interest but keeps the kids busy for a day or 2 during the holidays.Has anybody seen what James Haskell has been saying? Apparently has been slating Wasps on social media.
On another note, I read that he goes magnet fishing in canals. Pretty random but kind of interesting.
Lol, Gaz who used to post on here as a 'cov fan'. No way this has come from sisu. LolBloody hell, somebody on DrunkenWasps is blaming SISU for the release of the story....it did cross my mind but it appears the ridiculous conspiracy theories are not limited to this board.
Already briefed on this 6 months ago.Italia is being briefed as we speak
Wasps mutiny! England stars Elliot Daly and Joe Launchbury set to leave over 'broken promises' on training facilities and contracts
By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail
- Wasps resume their Premiership title challenge against Northampton on Sunday
- But Coventry-based side face growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars
- Players unhappy as they were promised state-of-the-art training facilities in 2014
View comments
Wasps face the growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars, with a mutinous mood in the squad over ‘broken promises’ relating to late payments and new facilities.
Coventry-based Wasps resume their Premiership title challenge on Sunday when they meet Northampton at the Ricoh Arena but there is serious unrest behind the scenes.
Patience is thin, caused by a lack of anticipated investment against a backdrop of financial turmoil. This jars with the perception that the club are enjoying a new era of prosperity.
+4
Wasps face the growing threat of an exodus of their leading stars like Elliot Daly
Sportsmail has learned that marquee players such as Elliot Daly, Joe Launchbury and Christian Wade are expected to leave when their contracts expire unless Wasps address their grievances. Sources have indicated that the discontent and resentment have become so heightened that some fear there will be a flashpoint before most of those deals run out.
The primary gripes among players and coaching staff relate to inadequate training facilities and the backlog in image-rights payments, which are thought to account for about 15 per cent of overall salaries.
Share this article
Share
200 shares
Wasps moved to Coventry at the end of 2014, and owner Derek Richardson pledged that they would have to use a temporary training base for only six months, before a new, state-of-the-art HQ was ready.
Three years on, two sites which were identified have been ditched and a new location is being sought. The message from the hierarchy is that it will be at least another two years before they no longer have to act as reluctant squatters in the basic surroundings at Broadstreet RFC.
+4
Players were promised state of the art training facilities when they moved to Coventry in 2014
There, the supposedly wealthy club have portable cabins serving as offices in the car park. They share changing rooms with Broadstreet teams and use the clubhouse for lunch — ‘It’s like eating in a pub every day we are training,’ said one player.
Outside, Wasps have only one pitch and players have voiced concerns that the tired surface is contributing to a run of injuries.
Misgivings have also been expressed about the state of the pitch at the Ricoh Arena but nothing had been done about it. Instead, urgent work had to be carried out when cracks were found in the walls of the stadium last month.
Sportsmail has been told that image-rights payments were not made to Wasps players for two years. That problem was addressed earlier this season but now it is understood payments are six months in arrears again.
+4
Players could leave when their contracts expire unless Wasps address their grievances
There is a widespread feeling that all areas of expenditure are under pressure and that the academy is being denied vital investment in favour of ‘window dressing’.
Another grievance within the squad was the handling of Sam Jones’s premature retirement. The flanker, who suffered career-ending injuries performing judo drills training with England in 2016, was upset that his wages were halted immediately he announced he had to stop playing.
Team-mates were angry but the board argued that he had been paid in full for 17 months while rehabilitating, when a contract only requires wages to remain at normal levels for six months of inactivity. Still, the saga served to further strain morale — not helped by poor communication between the powers-that-be and the players.
Unrest behind the scenes comes at a time of financial turbulence. Wasps launched a bond scheme in 2015, which yielded £35million, but they owe £2m in interest each year and must settle the debt in full in four years’ time.
+4
Players have voiced concerns that the tired surface is contributing to a run of injuries
Doubts have been expressed by independent experts about their ability to do so, with claims that the club will need to refinance.
At the end of last year, Wasps were forced to seek permission from bond holders to break the terms of the deal after Richardson made a personal payment to make up for a shortfall in the scheme.
Last month, it was reported that Wasps’ financial statements were three months overdue and that Companies House were taking enforcement action against what amounts to a criminal offence.
While the public see a club riding high, with a viable home of their own at last, a title-chasing team and box-office appeal, the reality is that all is not well. It has been suggested that Wasps are at a crossroads and that without the right investment, the feared exodus will happen.
Read more: England stars Daly and Launchbury set to leave Wasps over 'broken promises' | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Already briefed on this 6 months ago.
The only frothing at the mouth is on here and London papers.
Can’t say more than that.
Never mind. Just need people to start boycotting them now and going to watch CRFC or us instead and hopefully that will push them over the edge.
Textbook!Already briefed on this 6 months ago.
The only frothing at the mouth is on here and London papers.
Can’t say more than that.
Textbook!
a) Bat it away as old news.
b) Make out that no-one else is really bothered anyway.
c) Hint that there's more that could be said but hands are tied.
Already briefed on this 6 months ago.
The only frothing at the mouth is on here and London papers.
Can’t say more than that.
2 Could the DM article have been encouraged (even written) by SISU (do they have any influence there - they seem to be a shady bunch), or a disgruntled CCFC supporter?
Pointed this out a while back. Senior people are 'leaving' and not being replaced. It was glossed over as Fisher-esque 'normal business practice'.Nick Eastwoods covering around three roles now.
Makes a change from having a go at our fans outside the Ricoh.Has anybody seen what James Haskell has been saying? Apparently has been slating Wasps on social media.
now the penny has dropped that wasps are not going to be the new dominant world beaters that the glossy sales brochure promised
As much as it was presented as a bright future for Wasps its never stacked up for me how you take a loss making stadco, a loss making rugby club, put them together, add in the need for millions in new facilities and a massive new debt load and claim its plain sailing moving forward.The move to Coventry was so, so wrong on so many levels and was always going to lead to this.
As much as it was presented as a bright future for Wasps its never stacked up for me how you take a loss making stadco, a loss making rugby club, put them together, add in the need for millions in new facilities and a massive new debt load and claim its plain sailing moving forward.
Would be funny if they ended up having to groundshare in London. Maybe that new stadium right by where they were located for decades that's looking for a rugby club as a tenant, the one they claimed was impossible for them to move to as rugby was prohibited there.
The only downside would be Fisher being right, can you imagine how smug he'll look then.
We understand the accounts will be submitted in the next few days and, while containing far from ideal figures, their content is not as damning as is being speculated.
Sisu never wanted the stadium & it' a white elephant. Get well soon.
Predictable stuff from the Telegraph
Interesting that the Telegraph have seen the accounts.
Great news! Its clear to anyone that all is not well at wasps hq.
Theres been plenty of broken promises, but I can't remember us ever failing to pay wages. Wasps are as much a bunch of chancers as sisu.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Dave Boddy is doing a decent Job since his arrival.Just with a better PR department.
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