The Bristol owner Malcolm Pearce warned last night that the Zurich Premiership was in crisis with a number of clubs on the verge of financial meltdown.
Pearce, who is looking to raise £1m from local businesses to take Bristol through the rest of the season, said that, if Twickenham did not increase its funding, it would jeopardise the future of the Premiership.
Little more than a month ago tomorrow's Powergen Cup meeting between Bristol and Rotherham would have seen the Premiership's bottom club take on the first division leaders but Bristol have since rallied and Pearce has urged supporters to turn out and show their backing for the club.
"When I took over Bristol in 1998 I said it would take five years to turn things round and that has been about right," said Pearce, who has ploughed £9m into the club. "That time is nearly up and the future lies in a consortium being responsible for the club rather than one man.
"The Premiership clubs are having to fund a shortfall of some £15m between them each season to keep going. That works out at around £1.3m each and the mood of the owners is such that, unless Twickenham does something, Premiership rugby will fall down like a pack of cards.
"With a number of players on England duty for half the year, one owner said recently that we are being asked to purchase the World Cup. That tournament is putting considerable extra pressure on us and Twickenham seem happy to let the owners pick up the financial shortfall: not for much longer."
Pearce said he would be meeting the Newport owner Tony Brown after Christmas to discuss sharing the Welsh club's Rodney Parade Ground, though Newport have their eyes set on a merger.
"I would like Bristol's two soccer clubs to combine and share a new stadium with our club but that is not going to happen. Newport is an option: they approached us but we have to consider a number of aspects, not least whether a Premiership club would be allowed to be based in Wales," Pearce said.
On the field Bristol are in form and have not lost at home since mid-September.
"The Rotherham tie gives us the chance to rest some players," said the Bristol coach Peter Thorburn. "That does not mean we will be taking the opposition lightly. They have not lost for a year and will have a point to prove after being denied promotion.
"The Powergen Cup is important to us because it offers a route into the Heineken Cup. Rotherham are a decent side but it is hard to tell whether they are ready for the Premiership. They will see Sunday as the chance to prove themselves at a higher level."
