Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Otago Rugby Union comes up with financial deal

Updated at 7:40 pm on 24 May 2012

The cash-strapped Otago Rugby Union has negotiated a settlement with all of its creditors which it says will be in place by the end of the month.

Liquidation loomed for the Otago union in March, with debts of $2.35 million and unable to pay players' wages and administrative staff or their bills.

The terms of the rescue package, which include a long-term $500,000 from the New Zealand Rugby Union, meant the directors had to resign. A new board has now been appointed.

Newly appointed chairman Doug Harvie says creditors who're owed less than $5000 will get everything they're owed, while others will get $5000 plus half of what they're owed above that.

Dunedin City Council has written off the $480,000 it's owed.

Mr Harvie says under a reworked financial plan the union's forecasting a modest surplus for this financial year and for the following two years.

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