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A Jersey airline has offered to help Jersey Reds players with flights to the UK if they are struggling to afford to travel home, following the financial collapse of the rugby club.
Blue Islands' Chief Executive, Rob Veron, said his team's thoughts were "with the players and staff" affected by the club's demise.
The club announced yesterday that it had ceased trading and that liquidation “appears inevitable” after talks with current and future investors fell apart.
This was despite receiving £370,000 in "short-term" grants from the Government earlier this year.
The sudden collapse of the professional side reportedly came as a shock to players, with some now facing their own financial battles having lost their jobs seemingly overnight.
As well as impacting the players and staff, the Reds collapse is also is estimated to cost the local economy millions in lost sports tourism revenue.
The Blue Islands CEO said: "Having worked closely with the Jersey Reds for many years, a relationship that grew since the pandemic, we are truly saddened to hear of this news.
"We also enjoyed flying the many visiting teams and their supporters to Jersey."
Mr Veron continued: "Jersey Reds not only play a significant role in our local community but have been an important driver for the inbound visitor economy; the closure will impact many sectors.
"Blue Islands has offered players support with flights to the UK in the event they are unable to meet costs to travel home."
Pictured: Blue Islands' chief executive Rob Veron said the Jersey Reds play "a significant role in our local community".
Chair of the Jersey Reds, Mark Morgan, previously said that research suggested the club’s value to the island was around £5m per year.
This, he explained, included the tax-paying staff they employed, GST on events and alcohol sold, as well as the value generated through players and visitors travelling to and from Jersey and enjoying local hospitality.
An independent report carried out several years ago – and referenced in the 2020-2023 Government Plan – placed the figure at "up to £2.1 million a year".
Jersey Chamber of Commerce president Adam Budworth said the club’s collapse was "a real loss to the island".
"This is more than rugby, this is Jersey PLC," he said. "Jersey Reds have put the island on the global rugby map."
"The exposure they have had recently, both domestically and internationally, in winning the Championship, the recent live coverage of the Bath game and the excellent interview with Harvey Biljon following the match, would in marketing spend have taken a significant portion of Visit Jersey’s budget," Mr Budworth added.
"The value to Jersey in these terms, [is] added to the economic impacts this will have to related industries in travel, tourism, hospitality and retail from visiting teams and supporters. Chamber, like the rest of the island, feels for everybody involved with the club and particularly those employed there."
Jersey Hospitality Association co-CEO Marcus Calvani said the Reds' collapse was "unbelievably bad" for the island's economy as the club was "a major factor" in attracting visitors at quieter times of year.
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