Rotherham captain Mike Schmid has branded the continuing row between the top clubs and the RFU a disgrace to the game and called for the situation to be sorted out immediately.

He said the issue of relegation and promotion should have been finalised long before the start of the season and that the rules should be left in place so teams know what they are playing for each season.

This week the Zurich Premiership newcomers have been forced to deny they are heading for bankruptcy saying they were no worse off than all the other top-flight clubs all of which are now owed £450,000 by the RFU.

"It is absolutely ludicrous that they are holding the money back. I cannot understand it. I realise that there are problems within the negotiations but why weren't these problems worked out. It's an absolute disgrace to the game of rugby that these things cannot be sorted out before the beginning of the season," he said.

The RFU are insisting that there is automatic relegation and promotion between the top two divisions and second division clubs, led by Cecil Duckworth of Worcester, have threatened a legal challenge if that is not the case.

However only in April were the Rob Andrew proposals for the league structure accepted, ahead of Tom Walkinshaw's franchise plans, which called for a suspension of relegation and promotion to allow Premiership clubs time to establish themselves.

Rotherham gained promotion last year via a double-header play-off with Bedford, the previous year there were two play-off places available.

Schmid, a Canadian international, said there must be some consistency in the rules and said it would be unfair if they end up going down automatically this year having had to face play-offs last year to go up. He said he would back Rotherham should they end up in a play-off situation again this season to stay in the top flight.

"I'm a fan of North American sports and that just would not happen out there, it's the same with football here, if it happened with football there would be nation-wide riots," said Schmid, who fears the on-going dispute is harming the sport.

"The Americans do things pretty well in terms of professional sport, they have created a culture, there is consistency in the teams and everybody knows what goes on from year to year. That's important for support in the game and to get those lower clubs supporting the Premiership clubs. Everyone has got to know what's on the table before the season starts.

"It is a big step to climb up from the second division, there is a lot of off the field stuff that goers on, it is a big big challenge, the more time we can adjust to this the better for us. At the same time there has to be some consistency, it has to be the same year in year out. In the last three season it has been different every year, I don't see how people can support that."

Tomorrow Rotherham, bottom of the table and without a win in five games, although they have been unlucky running Leicester, Bristol and Gloucester close, welcome the European Champions, Northampton, to their tight little Clifton Lane ground.

After a dreadful start to the season for the Saints Schmid believes they can cause an upset as long as they become more clinical in attack.

"If we repeat the performance against Leicester and take our kicks and finish off our opportunities we will beat Northampton. There is an experience gap which we are trying to bridge between the second and first division and that will take some time.

"We have had five or six key injuries and maybe we need a couple more players who can come on and make an impact. We knew it would be hard, of the Premiership teams we have played over the last couple of seasons we have been close but we are just a step or two away."