Coventry on brink

The Midlands outfit, whose former players include ex-England internationals Peter Jackson, David Duckham and Phil Judd, have been struggling financially in recent years.

But England's governing Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Tuesday they would be holding a meeting on Wednesday with Coventry president Peter Rossborough, the former England full-back, "to investigate all possibilities to keep the club sustainable".

Coventry, who now play in the second tier Championship, avoided going under in 2008 after receiving a reprieve from the RFU's demand of raising a 100,000 pounds bond, having secured half the amount.

However, the club, whose Butts Park Arena ground is owned by Coventry City Council, has continued to face financial problems.

"It is with great regret that Coventry RFC Limited has announced today (Tuesday) that it has taken the decision to close the club," Green said in a statement.

"Over the past three years the club has tried to overcome many problems and set itself a secure future, unfortunately due to many issues, some inside and some outside of its control, this has not been possible."

"The club simply cannot carry on with such an uncertain future...This is a very sad day for rugby in Coventry; however the club just can't ignore the present situation regarding its debts and creditors."

Coventry's Championship rivals London Welsh, also a major force in the English club game in the 1960s and 1970s, were deducted five points earlier this season for going into administration.

Long before the end of the amateur era Coventry had been overtaken as one of the leading teams in the Midlands, never mind England, by the likes of Leicester.