1
Steve Diamond pulls out of TV appearance: 'I've spoken to my lawyers'
Former Worcester Warriors head coach Steve Diamond has pulled out of an appearance on BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight after it was revealed that his consortium is not the preferred bidder to buy Worcester Warriors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Worcester collapsed into administration and were partially liquidated this month with HM Customs and Revenue pursuing unpaid tax in the region of £6 million. They are currently suspended from the Premiership and face relegation at the end of the season.
Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Limited – a consortium led by James Sandford and former owner Jim O’Toole – have been named as the preferred bidders by the administrators Begbies Traynor.
They in effect have beaten Diamond’s own project to take over the club. Diamond’s “Sixways Village” bid would have seen the former head coach backed by long-time friend Mike Blood and ex-Leicester CEO Simon Cohen.
Diamond was due on BT Rugby Tonight with Craig Doyle, Ugo Monye, Danny Care and Lawrence Dallaglio, but pulled out as the news broke. According to Doyle, Diamond told BT Sport that: “The word from Steve Diamond who we spoke to a short time ago was: ‘I’ve spoken to my lawyers. I’ve heard nothing.’ ”
"This is a positive and major step in the process, it's all about keeping an elite rugby club up and running"
Words from Worcester Warriors about the Jim O'toole lead consortium who've had their bid accepted to take over the rugby club#RugbyTonight pic.twitter.com/L9SICyNlOT
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 30, 2022
Whoever ultimately takes over, it’s positive news and a step closer to Worcester returning to competitive rugby next season.
News broke earlier this evening on the BBC of the preference for the O’Toole-Sandford lead deal, which is apparently partially backed by American money.
ADVERTISEMENT
Administrator Julie Palmer said on regional radio station BBC Hereford & Worcester that: “They have committed to the transaction financially by putting a sizeable deposit down for the preferred-bidder status. That’s very important as we still have tight timelines to work with, with the RFU and PRL, in terms of them understanding the shape of the league for next season.
“And what we didn’t want to do was to waste time in discussions with someone who didn’t proceed. So that preferred-bidder deposit is a real key aspect of them showing that they are committed to this and that they do intend to follow the whole acquisition through.”
The group say on their new website that: “Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Limited was formed specifically as a vehicle to support the owner’s aspiration and willingness to provide a financial rescue package to, and acquire control of Worcester Warriors, the English Premiership Rugby Club.”
additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to comments