The dreams of Premiership are gone with the recent news of Warriors being put into administration following the suspension by the Union. The club will not be able to object to the inevitable relegation. It seems that the Warriors will have to undergo significant changes to return to the league. The Rugby Football Union stressed that the management failed to implement a working monetization scheme that would satisfy the requirements for the long-term sustainability of Worcester’s squad.
The whole business model requires revamping
One of the biggest backers of the team is the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport which is a governmental body. The very fact that the team has to ask for the biggest cut of their budget to be provided by an official authority is a sign that the business model does not work and other sponsors are nowhere to see. The Department provided over £14 million in funding just in 2021 to help the club get through the pandemic.
The Worcester can appeal the ruling by the RFU, but it is unlikely that they will succeed after being called out for “appalling mismanagement”. Owners of team Jason Whittingham and Coln Goldring even failed to meet the timeline to apply to delay the deadline which is indicative of their management style.
RFU states that the team will have to be sold to owners that can finally sort out issues within the club and ensure its return to the Premier League. Representatives of the Union also added that they want to see the club helmed by people who can build a strong infrastructure and a sound governance model facilitating long-term sustainability and profitability of the team.
The Worcester’s roster will sit this one out
Steve Diamond, the head coach of the team, said that the whole squad was given a week off before the announcement because he was sure that the deadline would not be met. All players were asked to gather their equipment and belongings before the beginning of the week.
The Union confirmed that all following matches that were supposed to play by the club will be canceled. It is clear that the club will face permanent suspension and will be relegated. There is no other way forward.
