Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'A real mess': Worcester set to go into administration - report

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Gallagher Premiership strugglers Worcester are poised to go into administration as early as Monday amid reports that the tax bill owed to HMRC is as high as £6million. The Warriors admitted in midweek that they had been issued a winding-up petition and a club statement at the time sought to give assurance that the situation was being dealt with.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The club owners and board are fully committed to preserving top-flight professional rugby in Worcester and have been working on solutions to secure the financial future of Worcester Warriors and to pay the outstanding tax owed to HMRC,” read the statement on Wednesday with the countdown towards their opening Premiership game of the season – against London Irish on September 10.

“We appreciate that this is unsettling for the players, the employees, the fans, and the community in Worcester and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to establish the appropriate next steps.”

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Those next steps are predicted to be Worcester going into administration, according to Marcello Cossali-Francis, the sports editor of Worcester News. In a series of tweets on Saturday, he provided a worrying update on what has gone on in recent days at Sixways.

“Warriors update: so it sounds very much as if the club will go into administration, likely to be public knowledge on Monday morning,” he posted. “There remains concern about the fact Warriors the club and land are now separate businesses. Makes it tricky for a buyer if that’s the case.

“There are people within the club who no longer are on side with the owners and there is a big worry for staff over their jobs. Question mark over salaries for all at the club. They want a sale of all assets but that might not be what the owners want anymore. Tax bill is big.

“I believe we have hit a point where there is serious unrest as the club and a real worry about the future of it. What needs to happen now is a full sale of all assets to ensure the club does not go bust, but what buyer would take the club and not the land? It’s a real mess, folks.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I also understand there could also be some player movement through the club, regardless of the outcome of all this. Players need stability for their families and can’t be sat wondering where the next pay packet is coming from. Ahead of the new season… this is so damaging.

“Wonder what Cecil Duckworth would think of all this. Everything he did for this club to set it up for the best possible future. I just hope he is honoured with the right outcome here.”

Another rugby reporter, Jon Newcombe, put an exact figure on the tax bill owed by the Warriors. “Being told that Worcester owe HMRC £6m in unpaid tax and that new investors are being sought with current owners losing interest. As for Wasps, this month’s wages are safe but uncertain after that. Troubled times in the Prem.”

The revelation that Worcester are in financial trouble came following months of speculation about the situation at Wasps where a £35m bond debt missed its repayment deadline. They too are also in talks with HMRC over unpaid tax.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

You want a lot of things that will never happen. You describe rugby League. You should go and watch that then. Rugby is supposed to be competitive. It's the opposition team that should figure out how to defend and turn it into an attack on the fly. The Boks play within the rules. Everyone says that kick off should have been a penalty. The law state that from a kick off it's a scrum. It's confusing as with mauls and rucks, the player has to be behind the kicker. The same does not hold true for kick offs. That law they can change, because the same rule should apply across the board for players to be behind the kicker. It's not the first time that the infield lineout has been used, only the first time in an international match. If I remember correctly, the Barbarians used it against England in 2021 or 2022 (under correction). It's also been used in SR during the 2000’s. There is just this big hoo haw because the Boks did it. If it was another team like the Irish or England or the French or someone, it would be innovative, genius and brilliant. The dummy the AB's did where a player broke to the right, acting like he had the ball, meanwhile the scrumhalfs ran down the sideline and scored. I don't hear you cry about that. That can be seen as cynical play and there is even a case for unsportsmanlike behaviour and at a minimum a yellow card. Yet there is silence from you about that. I on the other hand thought that was a great tactic. It's also not a new invention, but an old one. You only love rugby when it suits you. I don't care what new tactics teams use, or whoever the team is that is doing it. Every new invention or tactic or play that the coaches comes up with is great for rugby. It keeps it interesting. There is no law that prevents other coaches using the same tactics or create their own. It's up to coaches to come up with defense strategies to cut that down, and even retaliate against it. The game is never boring. It keeps evolving. People keep talking about rugby and all these things is what draw new fans. They don't want boring. They want innovative and fun. They want to hear the crash of bodies. They want to see the strength of the scrums. They want to see the speed, agility and flair of the players. The amazing passes and jukes or side steps. The only reason you are so up in arms is because the Boks did it and now you want it banned. The same rhyme over and over. Matt Williams wannabe. Nah, you don't love rugby or else you would enjoy the most exciting era yet in this lovely sport. Stars in so many national teams has never been more abundant nor was there so many teams that could beat each other on any given day. Not to even mention watching an era of the most controversial but most innovative and clever coach ever. A dynasty that's to last for a very long time even after he retires. Like him or hate him, his genius is undeniable and he is recognised world wide as the best coach in most countries by fans and pundits alike, even if they don't like him. Stop the hate and rather enjoy what's to come.

39 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ ‘He never backs down from a fight’ - Jack Conan times another Lions run to perfection ‘He never backs down from a fight’ - Jack Conan times another Lions run to perfection