Worcester Warriors focused on matters on the pitch after salaries finally paid
Worcester Warriors' on-field preparations for their Premiership opener at London Irish on Saturday have accelerated with the news that most, if not all, of the playing squad have finally received their August salary payments.
Telegraph Sport reported on Friday that payments from Worcester’s owners, Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham, had started to land in players' accounts that night, two days late, on the same day that the duo had put League One football team Morecambe up for sale, stepping back from their positions on the board of directors in the process.
With the start of the Premiership schedule now just under one week away, however, the release of funds to the players has meant that full focus can turn to the Warriors' opener at the Brentford Community Stadium on September 10. The August payments now mean that any Warrior hoping to leave the club contractually cannot do so for another six weeks - if another salary payment is missed - unless the club were to fall into administration.
It is understood, too, that the prospect of a playing boycott while the present owners remain in charge, which was reported at the end of last week, is highly unlikely.
A well-placed source at the Warriors conceded that “the mood is obviously a bit fractious around camp towards the situation and the owner”. They stressed, though, that the players remained “very much committed to each other, the staff and the fans”.
Steve Diamond had targeted a top-eight berth and qualification for the Champions Cup prior to HMRC issuing Worcester with a winding-up petition. It was that news, which was broken by Telegraph Sport, that intensified the disruption. And yet, players were described as “ready for next weekend mentally” and poised for “a big week to hit this Premiership campaign well”.
On their last visit to Brentford, in May, Warriors drew 25-25 with Irish but lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup after extra-time by virtue of having outscored the Exiles by three tries to one during the 80 minutes.
It was said that the playing group, which is thought to be unified under Diamond, is eager “to start looking up and forward to the future of what we can achieve together and look up the table.”
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson reiterated on Saturday that the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby had remained “in regular dialogue” with Worcester as well as the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
"As a result of assurances provided on payment of salaries and insurance cover Worcester Warriors are able to participate in Premiership Rugby,” read the statement. “We will continue to work together to provide the owners with the best opportunity for developing their future sustainability plans."
Will their salaries continue to be paid and on time? Which side will turn up at Brentford?
Always a Wasp