Premiership II plans announced

Paul10 wrote: Steve Diamond with the verbal diarrhea. Ignore the headline on the click there's a lot more in the article. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/winless-newcastle-boss-steve-diamond-calls-for-relegation-return/

"There will be no relegation this season but Diamond believes that kind of jeopardy is vital for the future of the Premiership – if the top Championship club satisfies the criteria put in place.

He added: “My experience as an advisor is that one of the biggest hurdles is the criteria but you have to have a minimum criteria and I do welcome promotion and relegation. Not many people in my shoes would say that because it gives you another bit of motivation with the jeopardy of it. I am on a honeymoon at the moment because I can’t go down.”

“If the clubs, and there are probably half a dozen clubs who would want to come up, if they fit the criteria of the minimum standards by all means invest in the team like the Premiership have and give it a crack."

He still favours two of the major obstacles to a free gangway between the leagues - minimum standards and a play-off. Both are in place to tilt the playing field in favour of underperforming Premiership clubs rather than successful Championship clubs.