WORK is currently taking place behind the scene at Launceston Rugby Club to find the 'best fit' model for the future of the club.

The club has released an official statement from chairman Tim Fox, who confirmed that after taking the decision, in consultation with the coaches to stop actively pursuing promotion, work is taking place to come up with a plan for the club's future.

He said: "For the last few years, we have been punching well above our weight, having tasted National One rugby and mounting a challenge for the championship this season. The recent defeat against Stourbridge was seen as the 'end of the road' in this year's quest, and with funding from the RFU decreased from next year onwards, combined with the current economic climate, we have decided to make some cuts in terms of the playing budget for the rest of the season."

The club had to make the recent decision to release Tim Collier from his

contract with immediate effect in order for him to have enough time to find a new club before the transfer deadline.

Meanwhile, Scott Ireland has been unable to regain his fitness following last year's broken leg and will take no further part in this campaign.

In the last few days, due to family illness, Hamish Mitchell has been released from his contract in order to return home to New Zealand to be with his

family.

Tim added: "As a club, we felt that these decisions were necessary to ensure that the long term future of the club is secured, and enable us to bridge the gap that has emerged due to the 'credit crunch', and its effect on our sponsorship targets.

"We are currently looking at our structure, the make up of the squad and also planning for the future. A three-year plan is being looked at currently, with a view that we will deliver our thoughts and plans to the supporters in the coming weeks. It is imperative that we make decisions that take into account the fact that we are in a recession, and that the RFU are reducing the funding streams to this level of rugby and those immediately below. It is no secret that the RFU see this year's National Two as part of a semi-amateur based future. The world of rugby, its clubs and its players, are all about to undergo change."

He added: "It is the clubs, like ours, who are at the heart of the community, and have thriving mini junior sections that have a good chance of building once again in the future. Our investment in local talent over the past few years, alongside our thriving academy set up will ensure that we are able to have much continuity into the future, and the coaching staff will work hard over the coming months to ensure that we punch well above our weight for years to come."