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Islanders are being urged to join a rally in support of the Jersey Reds and donate to a fundraiser, as players today begin to face the reality of the club's shock collapse, with some reporting having run out of money, facing eviction, and asking: "How did this happen?!"
Players and the public were told yesterday morning that the club had ceased trading in an announcement that sent ripples across the national sporting community.
Despite an emergency funding injection of £370,000 from Government, Chair Mark Morgan said that investor and RFU struggles had left the team unable to pay September salaries and that liquidation "appears inevitable".
Players were yesterday due to be travelling to south-west England to fulfil tonight's scheduled Friday night cup fixture against Cornish Pirates, but were contacted around 06:00 to advise them not to head to the Airport, but instead attend an "emergency" briefing where the news was broken to them.
They have since taken to social media to share the harsh reality of the situation, with centre Dan Barnes saying that he had woken up this morning to his "landlord turning up, no rent paid and facing eviction immediately, no pay cheque, no money... bills taken out... no job... friends for life in pieces".
Waking up this morning to:
— Dan Barnes (@Danbarnes012) September 29, 2023
Landlord turning up, no rent paid and facing eviction immediately.
No pay cheque, no money
Bills taken out
No job
Friends for life in pieces.
How did this happen in 24hours!?
"How did this happen in 24hours!?" he asked.
"Devastated" full-back Scott Van Breda, meanwhile, called for a "thorough investigation... to stop this happening to another club".
As a "show of support for the players and staff who have lost their jobs overnight", Dominic Boletta, who has been supporting the Jersey Reds for the last 20 years, has organised a peaceful show of support at the club's St Peter turf this evening.
All a bit surreal at the moment.
— Scott Van Breda (@scottvbreda) September 28, 2023
Devastated for everyone who has played their part in the clubs journey.
A special place to so many and to see it fall apart like this is tough to take.
Let’s hope a thorough investigation takes place to stop this happening to another club. ???? https://t.co/hkbYdgJRQE
In a post on Facebook encouraging people to attend the "peaceful protest", the rugby fan explained: "The Reds has been a massive part of my life, my family's life, as well as very many others (both home and away) for many many years and the fantastic community that has been built up over many years has been wiped out just like that and we can't let this happen!"
Clarifying that "it's more of a rally than a protest", Dom said that the primary aim was to "show support for the players and staff who dedicated their lives to rugby and have now lost their jobs overnight".
He described the announcement as a "complete bombshell", adding: "I can't imagine how it feels to go into work and be told you don't have a job and you're not getting paid.
"On a human level, it's not just rugby, it's people's lives."
The Reds' Director of Rugby, Harvey Biljon, laid bare the impact of the news on the lives of the players and staff in an interview with JEP Sport.
“I’ve had grown men who’ve just been given unexpected news, don’t have any solution and are in tears,” he said yesterday.
Pictured: Jersey Reds director of rugby, Harvey Biljon said that some players face being "stranded" in Jersey "because they can’t afford air fares to leave the island".
“I feel a sense of responsibility around the players, with the timing of this meaning they won’t get paid for their work this month.
“Many of them can’t pay their rent and there are some who face being stranded because they can’t afford air fares to leave the island – the immediate focus has been on trying to find the best way to support them, whether with funds or help with finding new clubs.”
As well as showing support, Dom said that he hopes that the rally could be the "trigger" for something bigger.
He explained: "If we get as many people there as possible, then maybe someone will realise that this is too big of an asset for the island to let fall away."
Pictured: The Jersey Reds playing against Ampthill earlier this year.
The local rugby fan said that he'd had "lots of positive feedback" following his social media post last night, and he hoped that there would be a "good crowd" at tonight's rally.
"I've spent 20 years supporting the club, but this is the time when they need our support the most," he added.
The Jersey Reds have since announced the launch of an independent relief fund that has been set up following "numerous offers of help from supporters wanting to know what they could do to help".
We are pleased to now be able to share details of an independent relief fund that has been set up.
— Jersey Reds (@JerseyRedsRugby) September 29, 2023
Please click on the link below for further information https://t.co/HW3Yr5kPEd pic.twitter.com/q6EM1Drqt2
The initial aim of the fund is to cover the staff's September salaries, with any funds in excess of this being split equally between those affected.
The rally will be held on Friday 29 September at 17:30 in the rugby club car park.
The details for the independent relief fund are:
Name: HB10 Limited (Staff welfare)
Sort Code: 16-51-71
Account Number: 20086850
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