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Worcester Warriors officially have a 'preferred bidder'
By Ian Cameron
Administrators have chosen a preferred bidder to buy Worcester Warriors, one of two Gallagher Premiership sides that went into administration earlier this month.
A consortium led by former owner Jim O'Toole and former Ireland U20s back row James Sandford has now been nominated as the preferred bidder by Begbies Traynor.
The consortium is named Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Ltd. Worcester Warriors' administrator Julie Palmer confirmed on BBC Hereford & Worcester that the group were now the preferred bidder and she confirmed that there were more than two bidders in the process. She said that the group is buying the 'full suite of assets' of the club and that they had provided a 'very sizeable deposit' for the preferred bidder process.
The consortium issued the following statement to BBC Hereford & Worcester: "We are grateful to the Begbies Traynor team for their recognition of our consortium as the exclusive Preferred Buyer.
"As has always been, our focus remains on retaining an elite level rugby club based on a viable long term strategic business model at Sixways for the immediate benefit of the community of Worcestershire and beyond into the wider game of rugby.
"This is a positive and major step in the process which we are excited to tell you about.
"The process remains complex, needs complete confidentiality and will require our full attention until it has run its course.
"To this end, we will be making no further comment in the media or on social media until this exclusive formal process concludes.
"We would ask the media, supporters, staff, commercial partners and stakeholders to be patient until then and thank you all for your support and understanding."
The statement comes just 24 hours after it was revealed that Wasps' administrators have also agreed a sale - subject to contract - to a consortium led by members of the Wasps Legends group.
The loss of the two Midlands sides leaves 11 teams in the Premiership.
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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