Joe Launchbury: Administration talk is 'unsettling' but I'm proud of Wasps players

Wasps captain Joe Launchbury says concerns the club could be relegated if they go into administration have been "unsettling" but is adamant he trusts those who run the club when they say that will not happen.

Wasps filed a notice to appoint an administrator last Wednesday, having been threatened with a winding-up petition by HMRC, over the £35 million which has not been paid to bondholders who invested in the club back in 2015 to help fund the purchase of the Coventry Building Society Stadium.

The squad learned about the club's financial situation on social media on Wednesday, leading to a meeting between all players and staff with chief executive Stephen Vaughan and owner Derek Richardson on Thursday.

Reflecting on a testing week, Launchbury explained that the players' questions were answered in that meeting, leading to an impressive 39-31 win over Bath at The Recreation Ground. The captain also believes the club are in a far better situation than when they faced a similar situation a decade ago.

"Certain bits feel similar [to 2012], but so much feels completely different. There is so much to be excited about with the future of Wasps – you look at the stadium, the training ground, the intent of people to push this club forward is as much as it ever has been. Maybe it wasn’t there 10 years ago," Launchbury said.

"It’s unsettling isn’t it? Especially when the word gets chucked around, which I don’t think the club wants chucked around – administration. No one wants to hear that. As players we don’t fully know what that entails, but the way we rallied around from that news, we trained as normal, cracked on with our day as normal. I’m really proud of the club.

"We fully trust [the board]. That's why I feel there are some differences, the people at the top are very clear about the fact that they want to be part of the club and to find solutions to this. For us as players, hearing [from them] on Thursday was music to our ears and now we'll leave that to them."

Asked whether he felt optimistic that the situation would resolve itself, Launchbury, now a 10-year veteran with Wasps, spoke positively.

"I believe so, I've got no reason to believe not to. Until I'm told otherwise... I'm very optimistic. Maybe I'm a little bit biased, but this club has a huge amount to offer, a huge amount of things going for ourselves. I believe the future can be really bright for this club.

"If I'm brutally honest, I probably care too much about the club. It means an awful lot to me, it's been home for a long, long time. I want the best for it and all its employees."