THIS time 12 months ago, Nottingham Rugby was on the verge of going out of business.

They were punching above their weight in the old Division One but the fans were not coming through gates to help sustain the level they needed to challenge for a place in the Premiership.

They eventually finished second but that performance was due, to an extent, to the dual registered players on their roster.

And that has continued this season as the Green and Whites are running a tight ship where the finances are concerned.

They are once again in second place in the new Championship with a squad which boasts a fair sprinkling of dual registered players.

And the Green and Whites director of rugby, Glenn Delaney, makes no excuses for that. He believes it is the way ahead for clubs like Nottingham.

He said: "It's the way through. It's the only way we can keep our club functioning with the budget we've got. Because it is a bottom two or three budget, without a shadow of a doubt."

Delaney has a keen eye for budding young talent and has built up a good relationship with near neighbours Leicester Tigers.

Leeds Carnegie have also been helping out this season and other Premiership clubs have also played their part over the years.

Over the last few seasons, Nottingham have had the benefit of some of the best youngsters from the Tigers' academy.

Matt Smith spent the 2006/07 campaign at Meadow Lane and is now playing in the Premiership with Tigers. Dan Cole has also helped out.

Centre Ayoola Erinle played his part last season and is now on the bench for England this weekend.

Greig Tonks, when injuries have permitted, has played for Nottingham for the last three seasons.

This campaign they have Calum Green, Dan Hemingway, Tom Youngs and Tonks, and Jacob Rowan and Dan White, dual-registered players from Leeds Carnegie.

Unfortunately every now and then, the mother clubs have their own crisis. Leicester are having theirs at the moment with injuries and international call-ups. Green, Hemingway, Youngs and Tonks were recalled last week, leaving Nottingham with a depleted squad.

Delaney said: "I think some people have been questioning the relationship we have with Leicester Tigers.

"The reality is that we get the lions' share of that arrangement. There are very rare times in a season when they need some players to help out and this is one of them.

"We've always said that we would help them with players if they got into a fix, even going beyond the dual registered players.

"To be honest, when we get the likes of Dan Cole playing for us, other dual registered guys like Billy Twelvetrees, those players will play for us at some stage this season.

"Leicester have had a fairly rough run of injuries but the reality is, we get lions' share of the players."

The arrangement between the two clubs goes beyond the dual-registered players. Delaney added: "We loaned them Matt Parr for their first match of the season because they had a prop crisis and we were able to accommodate that.

"The relationship is a two-way thing. We both recognise that we can't get through the season without help from others. It is a nice indication of what we do at Lady Bay that they are interested in helping us to help them.

"A few people look at us in isolation sitting in second place and they are wondering about all the dual registered players.

"The reality is, our rugby budget is one third down on last year, yet we performing to the same level.

"We got some good players in, we've some good youngsters. I don't bring in poor players if we are dual registering players. They are good and, from time to time, they will go back to their own club and have a bit of experience there but, for the most part, they will spend the season with us.

"Our own academy is producing talent which we allow to play at clubs such as Paviors. Dave Marshall is a great example of a talented youngster who is playing rugby at a junior club. Dave made his debut last week at Plymouth so it works for our development loaning players also. With our budget reduction taken into account, I think we do very, very well.

"I know some mid-table clubs spend £200,000 more than we do and that puts it into perspective."