As Worcester Warriors fight for their future amid major financial uncertainty right across the Gallagher Premiership, many are asking how and why this was allowed to happen.
Worcester have gone into administration after being suspended from all competitions by the Rugby Football Union, having missed the deadline to show plans were in place to move forward from the financial crisis enveloping it.
- Worcester Warriors enter administration
- Crisis-hit Worcester thrash Newcastle
- Embattled Wasps beat Bath despite mounting financial woes
The financial crisis for the club has sparked concern for the stability of the Gallagher Premiership as a whole, with many asking the question as to how the club got into this position in the first place.
To do that, some questions need to be answered...
What has caused Worcester's trouble?
The Warriors are saddled with more than £25m of debt, with an HMRC winding-up order due in October.
Players and staff at the Sixways club have not received their full wages, with the lack of funds leading to major operational shortcomings and staff at the club speaking out earlier this month about going unpaid.
Owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring insisted that a deal was close to being completed with new buyers, but no evidence of that deal has yet been produced.
Why were they put into administration?
Worcester were suspended by the RFU on Monday for failing to meet a 5pm deadline to provide the governing body with evidence that they possessed the required evidence of insurance covder, availability of funds to meet payroll and have a "credible plan to take the club forward".
This was followed by an announcement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that it would apply to the court to appoint administrators, with Worcester subsequently confirming to Sky Sports News they have entered administration.
This means that both the men's and women's teams associated with the club are now suspended.
What does that mean for the club?
Worcester's Sixways Stadium is now locked - staff were given until Monday afternoon to collect their belongings - and the immediate future is bleak.
Saturday's Premiership game at Gloucester is off, and because there is no public liability insurance in place, Worcester's players cannot train at the ground.
The players will be given some time off by rugby director Steve Diamond at least for a week, while administration means a likelihood of automatic relegation.
Where does the club go from here?
The DCMS will now apply to the court to appoint administrators and begin work to explore all possible options to protect creditors and preserve rugby in Worcester.
In the meantime, players, coaches, staff and supporters can only wait and hope.
The RFU is already working with Premiership Rugby and the DCMS to establish what the Warriors' suspension will mean in terms of the competitions affected.
"The owners of Worcester Warriors have not met the RFU's 5pm deadline to evidence insurance cover, availability of funds to meet the monthly payroll, and a credible plan to take the club forward," a statement from the RFU said.
"The RFU has therefore suspended Worcester Warriors from all competitions, including the Gallagher Premiership, Allianz Premier 15s, U18s Academy Cup and Allianz Cup with immediate effect."
Why is there financial struggles in the Gallagher Premiership?
The pandemic's impact cannot be ignored, but Worcester cannot hide behind Covid as a catch-all excuse.
Rising wages for top players and coaches, despite salary-cap curbs, a constant contest to lure in punters and continued battles to boost match excitement are all major factors.
So, where does English club rugby go from here?
Sustainability will be a major watch-word for the coming weeks and months.
The authorities will do everything to avoid Worcester going to the wall. But the wider argument over the Premiership's best long-term plan will rage on.
Indeed, as Wasps now face their own battle after announcing they will appoint administrators, it seems the league itself has some major work to do to ensure its security in the long term.