EXCLUSIVE: Salary Cap battle resumes as Bruce Craig steps down

By NEIL FISSLER
Premiership salary cap cheats could still face action following a stormy board meeting last week.
I revealed last Sunday that the affair was set to be swept under the carpet by the owners at their annual pre-season meeting. But I now understand that the investigation into three leading clubs breaching salary cap regulations is back on.
I am told that as a result of the meeting that Bath owner Bruce Craig is stepping down as vice-chairman of Premier Rugby Limited.
Craig, above, has been a hugely influential figure over the last few years, especially in gaining clubs greater power to run their own commercial affairs.
A forward thinker in the game, Craig was also at the forefront of negotiations to form the Rugby Champions Cup during their bitter divorce with ERC.
The investigation will now be discussed by owners at the end of the year by which time it will have been dragging on for a full 12 months. The problem is that for action to be taken against offenders it needs ALL clubs to be in agreement and at the moment that isn’t happening.
A significant number of clubs want action to be taken and an example to be made of those who spend in excess of the cap that currently stands at £5.5 million. The punishment for clubs found guilty of breaking the cap range from the docking of four league points for a minor breach, and up to 40 points for serious breaches.
Fines are also in place ranging from £3 for every £1 over the cap, rising to £10 per £1 imposed on any club found to be committing a third offence.
But even a fine of £3 for every £1 over the cap could see one club, who are said to be £1 million over, owing a massive £3m.
Any vote for action to be taken will almost certainly spark a legal challenge in the High Court as well as a complaint for restraint of trade to the European Union.
My impeccable source said: “The owners have voted to continue the investigation and apparently the weight of evidence against some clubs is enormous.
“The meeting was very tense with a lot of shouting and finger pointing. There are some very worried people at the moment.
“We will wait until the end of the year to see what happens but there are clubs who are leading the charge for action.
“They want to see the right thing done and clubs who are breaking the rules brought to book.”