Nottingham Rugby, who have this week asked for the City of Nottingham to help save the club, travel to Sandy Park to face Exeter Chiefs on Saturday 8th November, Kick off 3pm, for what is already billed as one of the games of the season.
The Green and Whites announced on Wednesday that they were in serious financial trouble and with the help of the Nottingham Evening Post have called for the City to galvanise behind them.
Worried chairman Geoff Huckstep admits the situation has become so serious he was set to close down last week – and there is still the real threat the club, founded in 1877, could go under by Christmas unless it gets an immediate cash injection.
Mr Huckstep and his colleagues on the Nottingham board were only persuaded to re-think the situation after their last home game, when a crowd of 2,019 saw them beat Bedford to go third.
They drew up a plan at an emergency board meeting, which involve wage cuts for players and staff and now believe they can keep the club afloat – providing they get the support of players, stakeholders and supporters, as well as from the Nottingham public.
Not ideal preparation for a game in which the winner will take 2nd spot in National Division One, however, Glenn Delaney, Nottingham’s Director of Rugby is confident his players will be focused on beating Exeter and putting more pressure on leaders Leeds Carnegie.
“This is a huge game for us this weekend and a big challenge, one which I know the players are up to and it is all about going down to Exeter and performing.
“We must focus on what we are in control of and we are completely in control of our destiny on the field and despite the diversions this week the training has been first class and we are well prepared.
“This group of players at Nottingham are a very special bunch and very close friends, they will have their minds on task this Saturday, I have no doubt about that.”
Nottingham and Exeter have met on 8 occasions in the league and it has been the South West side who have come out on top winning six to Nottingham’s two, like Otley last weekend Nottingham have never beaten Exeter in the league away.
On last season’s excursions into the capital of Devon the Green and Whites were narrowly beaten, 20-15 in the league and 16-8 in the EDF National Trophy Semi Final, which was played in atrocious conditions. The Green and Whites did, however, beat Exeter last time out at Meadow Lane, in March, as the two sides went head to head in the game of the season in the chase for the runners up spot behind Northampton Saints.
With a club record nine straight victories behind them it is a rare occurrence this year that Nottingham go into the game as underdogs but Exeter are perennially strong at home and the Chiefs have also won nine games this season.
Delaney is well aware of the task at hand but his Nottingham side relish the big occasion.
“We are excited about going down to Sandy Park, we have been waiting to get back down there since the Semi Final last year and the win at home against Exeter in March has only whetted the appetite.
“Exeter and Nottingham have built up a very healthy rivalry in the last few years and this is a big opportunity for us to put our marker down for the rest of the season. They are a good side with large squad of quality players who have been playing well and winning well. But they were poor away at Manchester and I am expecting some big head to head contests this weekend.
“Both sets of locks on show on Saturday are arguably the best in the league and this game will be won and lost up front.”
There will be a big travelling support from Nottingham at Sandy Park on Saturday and Delaney has called for the City to get behind the club so that they can continue their progress.
“We have built something that Nottingham can be proud of but we do need the help of the city.”
The Nottingham Evening Post is today launching a campaign to save the club. Over the next few days we will be revealing the details of the Save Our Rugby Club initiative as well as publicising your fund-raising efforts to save the club.
