Aviva Premiership
London Irish CEO: We haven't been good enough this season
ESPN Staff
May 2, 2016
© Christopher Lee/Getty Images

London Irish have been left standing still while other Aviva Premiership clubs have upped their standards, Exiles chief executive Bob Casey has admitted.

Irish's relegation from the Premiership was all but confirmed after Sunday's 32-25 defeat by Harlequins at the Madejski Stadium. The loss leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table and only the unlikely event of Bedford winning this season's Greene King IPA Championship would keep them afloat.

Other Championship title hopefuls Bristol, Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster have all met minimum standards criteria to play in the Premiership next season but, with Bedford not applying to have their ground audited, there is a lifeline lingering for Irish.

However, reflecting on the prospect of the club playing Championship rugby next season after a Premiership campaign that has garnered just four victories so far, Casey said: "This is a sad day in the history of this great club.

"Relegation was not part of our plans, but we have to be honest, as hard as the players and management have worked, we haven't been good enough this season.

"The foundations at London Irish are in place. "We have excellent facilities, a thriving academy programme and outstanding support staff. Unfortunately, the progress of our rugby programme has suffered a setback this season in what has been the strongest Premiership in a long time.

"We will do our utmost to ensure we return to the top tier of English rugby at the first time of asking."

Press Association Sport contributed to this report.

© ESPN Staff

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