Melbourne coach Tony McGahan says it'll be another six to eight weeks before the Rebels know whether they'll be part of Super Rugby in 2018.
Ahead of Saturday night's AAMI Park clash with the Queensland Reds, McGahan says he's been told not to expect a resolution any time soon.
The Australian Rugby Union is preparing to cut the Rebels or the Western Force in preparation for a downsized competition next year.
In the meantime, McGahan says the wait is putting unnecessary stress on the club, staff and players.
"We've been told it could be another six to eight weeks before a decision is made," McGahan said.
"So, as you can imagine, that puts a lot of unnecessary stress on everyone in the organisation.
"It's probably in the last couple of weeks where we can really feel it as it starts to affect people's livelihoods and where they want to be; with certain (contractual) windows closing both here and also overseas."
Until last month the privately-owned Rebels believed their future in the competition was secure. However, it's reported that the ARU has made an offer to buy out their licence.
McGahan says it is time for Rebels fans to get behind their team - who have struggled for form in an injury-ravaged season and won just once.
"It's a really difficult time and we need as much support as we can" McGahan said.
But he admits that his team also needed to do their part and produce rugby worth watching.
"We've got to give them something as well," he said.
"That's really important to us and we didn't do that justice last week.
"To ask people to keep coming out and supporting us, we really need to make sure we play our part."
While no players had sought him out, McGahan said he had heard of some Rebels and staff exploring other options.
"We all can relate," he said.
"They might not all have wives or kids but with job security, what's on next, what other options are out there, they affect every single person.
"People in commercial, people in media or ticketing, all of those roles are exactly the same."
Share
