Wasps left in limbo by wait for new ground deal

London Wasps hope to thrash out a new deal with Wycombe Wanderers this week that will allow the reigning Zurich Premiership champions to remain at the Causeway Stadium.

If a deal cannot be done, they will move back to share with QPR at Loftus Road and the decision has to be made swiftly.

Wasps, who secured Heineken Cup rugby by ensuring at least a second place finish in the league by beating Saracens 45-24 yesterday, should be selling season tickets but cannot send supporters any information until they know where they will be playing.

David Davies, the chief executive, said: "We hope there will be some form of deal in place in the next seven days. There are cash flow implications because clubs rely on advance season ticket sales during the summer."

Meanwhile, Harlequins are involved in a four team battle to avoid relegation after losing at home to London Irish. Leeds are now bottom with 35 points, the same as Northampton, with Quins on 37 and Worcester and the Irish on 38 with just two rounds of matches to go.

Mark Evans, the Quins chief executive and head coach, expected 37 points to be enough but has changed his mind. He said: "No-one has finished 12th with 37 points but I think it might happen this year - the bottom place side may get a higher total. Sides at the bottom have started winning, like we have.

"Relegation is nonsense. If we went down it would be a huge blow which would affect a lot of people. We have nearly 100 employees, but you can bet they would not all join us in National One. We'd have to completely reconfigure the business and club."

There were reports at the weekend that a secret plan has been hatched to make the Premiership a closed shop in two years time with no relegation.