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Worcester update: Potential buyers want stricken club to 'rise again'
By PA
Administrators seeking a buyer for Worcester say discussions are continuing “with a number of interested parties” about acquiring the club.
Worcester were suspended from the Gallagher Premiership and will be relegated at the end of this season following Warriors’ partial liquidation, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pursuing unpaid tax in the region of £6million.
A number of players have already left Sixways, including the likes of Duhan van der Merwe, Ollie Lawrence, Fin Smith, Joe Batley and Andrew Kitchener.
In a statement, administrators Begbies Traynor said: “We are pleased to confirm that discussions are continuing with a number of interested parties who remain focused on acquiring Worcester with a view to re-establishing rugby at the Sixways Stadium and developing the first-rate facilities and land around it to support rugby operations.
“We are not yet at a stage to be able to enter into any preferred bidder agreement, but expect to continue discussions around this with a view to achieving a sale in the timescale needed for a squad to be built by a purchaser in good time for next season.”
Administrators presented an update to Premiership Rugby’s investor board on Thursday.
And Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor added: “With Worcester, the focus is on finding a long-term solution for the club.
“It is definitely still massively on our agenda. The administrator has made great progress, one of the bigger results being the fact the land (at Sixways) can now be part of the package. Final offers are due soon.
“There is no sugar daddy here for this club. This is all about making a good commercial solution, both on and off the field. It won’t be a quick fix.
“I think we need to get our heads around the fact that Worcester, certainly in the short term, will be a different club.
“But it will have every opportunity to rise again, and should do sustainably.”
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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