By Matt Majendie

Is the money running out in rugby?

The threat of relegation from the Premiership has prompted Bath and Bristol to consider merging into a solitary entity next season.

Bristol's multi-millionaire owner Malcolm Pearce wants to pull the plug on his one-man funding of the Shoguns and pool resources with their West Country rivals.

With other clubs also struggling to make professional rugby a viable concern, BBC Sport asks a number of key figures what lies in store for the Premiership's "elite".

Mike Tindall (Bath and England):
This merger talk is simply the latest in a long line of blows in what has been a very hard season for Bath.

Most players are trying not to get too concerned and it's important we don't dwell on the uncertainties, but your future will always be at the back of his mind.

Bath are on the verge of the drop

The future of the game is bright but we need bigger stadiums for clubs across the country to get more revenue into the bank.

In that sense the game has to change and the interest seems to be there, with more people attracted to the sport year-on-year.

There are uncertainties but if you really want to play, you're going to play.

It's vital that players don't get too greedy, however, because the end result wil be that club's simply fold under the financial pressure.

Jim Kilfoyle (chief executive/coach of Rotherham):
From our point of view, things are very positive. We are aiming to balance the books and we'd expect to do that next year.

Perhaps we are going up at the right time as the salaries begin to drop and realism takes hold.

The future is looking bright Jim Kilfoyle

We are a very optimistic club and I believe others are too. It's just time to take stock.

Rugby union went through a painful chapter in the 1990s and we're experiencing something similar now.

The Bath-Bristol merger is a concern but I don't think it is a sign of things to come with big-money backers pulling out. The future is looking bright.

Bart Campbell (Global Sports Management):
My concern is for the welfare of the players and, of course, the uncertainty surrounding them at present.

That doubt could have further implications. With the salary cap being cut, the impact on academies could mean that more potential professional players are let go.

There are other backers chomping at the bit Bart Campbell

That said, English rugby is in the best financial position it's ever been in. Yes, clubs are still losing money but the quantity of those losses has dropped dramatically.

About £300,000 will be slashed off costs and the salary cap next season, which will allow clubs to break even or near enough.

It is premature to worry that other millionaire backers will follow Malcolm Pearce's lead. There are already others ready to step into the breach - (Oxford United owner) Firoz Kassam is just one who is chomping at the bit.