Edward Griffiths: "It's natural that in response to those findings we have to restructure our squad to a certain extent."
Tuesday 7 January 2020 09:52, UK
Saracens are facing the prospect of losing players or cutting their salaries in order to comply with salary cap rules this season, according to chief executive Edward Griffiths.
The Premiership champions were docked 35 points and fined more than £5m in November for breaching the regulations.
Griffiths admits the club's "brand" has been damaged and is desperate to prove they are operating within the salary cap this season.
"We're in a scoping exercise at the moment to decide what needs to be done," he told Sky Sports News. "Clearly the planning was done on the basis that certain transactions would not be included in the salary cap and the panel findings have found otherwise.
"So it's natural that in response to those findings we have to restructure our squad to a certain extent. The exact extent of what needs to be done will be conveyed to the players first.
"But we are in the final stages of what needs to be done."
Griffiths told the Rugbypass website: "You either reduce your headcount by letting people go or alternatively you reduce the salaries of those already there.
"This will clearly cause instability and uncertainty within the squad and it is in everyone's interest that this is sorted as soon as possible while also being mindful that we are dealing with people's lives, livelihoods and reputations.
"I would hope to have answers sooner rather than later. I told the squad last week the primary challenge is to provide certainty, confidence and clarity as soon as possible but there is no magic wand."
Saracens are currently bottom of the Gallagher Premiership on minus seven points.
