The issue with us is the money, and the ground, it always was, and it has not been solved. Derek didn't have it. Or at least did not want to fund a loss making club. Fair enough, although his lack of comment damns him in my eyes as a self interested shark. Until he says anything he is as guilty as Worcester's owners but that is neither here nor there. Opprobrium is not going to pay bills.
The fan numbers are fine- better than most- and that is a matter of public record year on year. They can be looked up and have been repeated ad nauseum. Fine in Bucks and London, better in Cov, but decent by rugby standards. No matter how much garbage we hear about London, Bucks or Coventry, it never was about the location. It is bullshit to suggest we will succeed on the back of being in a particular area. Bullshit. It is, and always has been, about the money the owner has and is willing to lose, and owning the ground.
Own the ground and but without the debt to buy it and we will be as bad as all the others, slightly buggered long term and unable to make the money we need to break even but not making huge losses. Middle if the pack bad. Without the ground it is like AP. Untenable long term no matter how full the ground is. So I can't see us working unless serious dough is available. It has gone for a Burton, and we won't be finding it soon.
I am extremely pessimistic even if the championship has us next year- no stable roots and many long term fans not going to turn up for Championship rugby unless we have hope of escape.
That, plus the lack of punishment for cheats at the top, make English rugby a deeply unattractive long term prospect for me.