Worcester have never finished higher than eighth in their 16-year Premiership history
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has given the Worcester Warriors until midday on Friday to prove they can safely host games at Sixways Stadium or be banned from all competitions.
Worcester must show that the local authority has issued a general safety certificate and written confirmation of medical coverage.
The Premiership club play Exeter at home on Sunday.
However, this game has now been thrown into great doubt.
“The RFU, PRL and DCMS have been seeking assurances from the owners of the Worcester Warriors regarding funding and potential new ownership proposals for several weeks,” the RFU said in a statement.
“All parties are concerned that due to a lack of available funds, the club cannot hold matches safely for players and spectators and continue to provide medical care to players.”
Worcester’s future has been in doubt for weeks since they announced they spoke to HMRC on August 17 about a settlement application over an unpaid £6million tax bill. The total debt is given as £25 million.
The club is still waiting to finalize a deal with a new investor after Warriors’ owners agree to the terms of sale on Tuesday.
“Any suspension can be lifted once the club has more security of funding and can demonstrate its ability to safely hold matches,” the RFU statement added.
Worcester denies the administrative claim
Earlier Thursday, Worcester said a letter suggesting the club had been placed under administration had been sent in error by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
warrior made a statement said it was not true and that the DCMS apologized for the “distress and fear caused”.
The announcement this week by owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring that they had ‘agreed’ a deal with an investor that would save the club from administration gave new hope.
But 24 hours later, the club was still waiting for the “final sign-off”. Warriors said on Wednesday that the agreement “has been finalized with the respective parties’ attorneys, but signing of the contract titles is required before the sale can be completed.”
The emergence of DCMS’ letter via social media on Thursday appeared to cast renewed doubt over the club’s future before Warriors dismissed all speculation.
“That’s not true,” the club said. “The statement was sent in error by DCMS who apologized for their error and the burden and anxiety it caused our staff and suppliers at what was already a highly stressful time.
“As we explained yesterday, we are awaiting the signing of an agreement with a buyer that would secure the long-term future of the club.”
DCMS said the department “continues to work tirelessly with Warriors, Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby on options for their future survival”.
Warriors rugby director Steve Diamond told ` Hereford & Worcester about the new investors “had to deliver” and that he had been told by the owners that they were “in the last litters of it”.
The club started the Premiership season last weekend with a defeat at London Irish.
“Much sympathy” for Worcester staff and players
Exeter are expected to join Sixways after they beat Premiership champions Leicester in their opening game and Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said they are preparing for the game.
“Obviously there has been a lot of evidence in the press that the game is dodgy and there doesn’t seem to be any concrete agreement yet on paying people who have to perform the game,” he told ` Sport.
“It’s not in our hands. Remember, a week ago people said Worcester wouldn’t play their first game and they did. I hope the game works.”
Baxter added: “Without thinking about the players, there are dozens of people involved in running a rugby club and to think their livelihood could be through no fault of their own is tough.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about making the players’ families feel a part of it and when you do that, as most Premiership clubs do, it becomes like one extended family and you feel for that Players – I totally understand how it must feel for those involved there now.
“You have bills to pay. There is a lot of compassion for that.”
Comments are closed.