The Central Coast Bears say they'll ensure they are ready to step up and fill the void should crisis-stricken Cronulla not make it to next year's NRL season.

Serious doubts over the Sharks' future deepened on Thursday when major sponsor LG announced it would not be renewing a deal worth in excess of $700,000 a year.

Having lost three sponsors last week in the wake of the club's involvement in the group sex scandal and already $9 million in debt, the outlook appears bleak.

Bears bid committee chairman, former North Sydney great Greg Florimo, said that while the consortium was eying a start in an expanded NRL in 2013, they would be ready to go next season if the opportunity presented itself.

"I've got to take the position that yes, we'd make ourselves ready," Florimo said.

"It's not our preferred option but going on the momentum and the rate at which this thing has built over the last six months, it wouldn't surprise me that we could get on the field in another six months.

"We'd certainly have a real crack at it.

"We're in a process of building our franchise with a view to coming into the competition in 2013 - that was in line with the renewal of the broadcasting rights and some indications that the NRL may be looking at expansion at that time.

"The contingency plan is if someone doesn't make it to the line in the meantime."

Asked whether the Central Coast bid team should start readying themselves to replace the Sharks, NRL chief executive David Gallop on Thursday said: "No, we are not at that stage yet."

Florimo's biggest fear over the short time frame is his ability to put together a competitive side ahead of the 2010 season.

The biggest headache for the NRL is the fact they are contractually obligated to provide eight matches a weekend through to the end of the 2012 season as part of their television rights deal.

Gallop on Thursday said there was "no blank cheque" to help any club out of a financial hole, meaning the NRL could be forced to look beyond the 16 teams currently in place should their investigation of the Sharks books show no prospect for recovery.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP