This heart wrenching statement from Worcester Warriors’ head coach Steve Diamond confirmed many fans’ worst nightmares. The 2022 Premiership Cup champions have been partially liquidated by the High Court, and all players contracts have been terminated.
The decision comes after the club found itself in legal hot water related to an unpaid tax bill in the region of £15 million, according to a report in The Times.
The Warriors have competed in the Gallagher Premiership for several years over three stints, most recently earning promotion in 2015.
The decision comes after the club found itself in legal hot water related to an unpaid tax bill in the region of £15 million, according to a report in The Times.
Next steps for the club are pretty limited. While there is still time to find a buyer and the club have stated that it is “currently speaking with interested parties,” the clock is ticking and the odds of a takeover grow slimmer as time goes on. The club will likely be suspended from the Gallagher Premiership for the remainder of the season and will subsequently be relegated, assuming it stays afloat. The club have appealed to the RFU against compulsory relegation, but the appeal was quickly denied.
The club also stands to lose its ‘P share,’ a share of stock in the league held by tenured clubs which assures an annual income of around £3 million. The Times report that the league could purchase this stake for almost £10 million, which would be put towards paying off the Warrior’s debts.
The liquidation will see Worcester’s 55-man squad become free agents. Four members of the squad, Ted Hill, Valeriy Morozov, Fergus Lee-Warner, and Ollie Lawrence have already found new homes, joining Bath Rugby on loan.
Worcester Warriors is not alone in their plight, as London-based Wasps RFC are reportedly days away from entering administration should they fail to find investors.