London Irish training ground could be sold to pay creditors after administration

London Irish’s administrators have confirmed the Exiles’ Hazelwood training centre will form part of the club’s insolvency.

Business advisory practice ReSolve has been appointed as administrator, with offers for the stricken club now invited.

Exiles owner Mick Crossan had pledged to protect the Hazelwood facility, despite Irish folding this week and being ejected from the English league system.

Powerday founder Crossan wants to ensure that London Irish Amateurs can continue to call Hazelwood home, but the training complex is now officially part of the club’s administration process.

ReSolve will have to decide whether the training ground would need to be sold to settle creditors, which remains the top requirement of administrators.

Irish were ejected from the Premiership by the RFU on Tuesday, after Crossan opted not to keep bankrolling a club with more than £30million of debt.

A long-mooted takeover by a US-based consortium failed to materialise, despite more than six months of talks, leaving Irish’s 124-year history at an end and more than 100 staff out of work.

“The administrations comprise two parts of the business: London Irish Holdings Ltd, which owns the club’s state-of-the-art training ground, and London Irish Scottish Richmond Ltd, operators of the club,” read a statement from ReSolve. “We are currently exploring options for the business and welcome any approaches from interested parties.”

ReSolve partner Lee Manning said: “I know that this will be a very difficult day for London Irish fans, players and staff who love and support this historic club. London Irish’s company directors and major shareholders worked tirelessly to try to find a buyer but this, sadly, was not possible.

“Our objective will be to ensure that as much value as possible can be preserved in the hope of securing the future of this much-loved club.”