Rumours are circulating that Rotherham will be denied promotion to the Premiership by England Rugby Limited - even though the club are yet to hear of their fate.

Rotherham have agreed to relocate from Clifton Lane to Millmoor in accordance with ground-criteria regulations, but according to the Daily Mail, ERL have decided to deny them access to the top flight.

The ERL today refused to comment, but the decision has already been delayed twice amid cynical speculation that the leading clubs are waiting to find out who finishes bottom of the Premiership this term.

But if the rumours are confirmed, it would mean Bath could go into Sunday's final game against Wasps with a huge weight lifted from their shoulders.

Currently just four points above bottom club Leeds, Bath suffered a record league defeat against Gloucester last weekend.

With another reverse against Wasps also likely, Recreation Ground officials knew that if Leeds could win just one of their final two fixtures, then one of the most famous names in the game could be heading out of the top flight.

Instead, it seems Rotherham will be the ones to collect the £750,000 parachute payment on offer to the 'relegated' team, although Bath general manager Bob Calleja is refusing to celebrate just yet.

"I have heard the rumours that are circulating but I can't confirm our view of it until we see what is going to unfold," he said.

"I want to see confirmation of these rumours and I want to see what criteria has been applied. No matter which way it turns out, we have learned some salutary lessons this season."

Rotherham chief executive Jim Kilfoyle also insists the club are still waiting to hear the final verdict.

"We have heard nothing, so we are just ploughing on with our plans as we have been recently," he said. "It would be nice to know but we have been given no deadline for an announcement." Rotherham have already agreed to let former Scotland skipper Eric Peters leave after being unable to make a firm contract offer, and unless the situation is resolved soon, other members of their National League title-winning squad may also depart.

"Eric had a couple of offers and wanted a quick decision but we couldn't give him one," admitted Kilfoyle. "There are one or two other people we are talking to who are hanging on to find out what is happening, so it is not an easy situation."