Calls for elite rugby to be at the forefront of Worcester Warriors' future
The MP for Worcester Robin Walker is among those seeking assurances.
Following confirmation that Worcester Warriors has new owners, there are calls for the focus to remain on bringing elite level rugby back to Sixways.
A consortium led by former Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole and business partner James Sandford had their bid to buy the club accepted by administrators Begbies Traynor yesterday (February 1).
But they still have to meet conditions set out by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) if the club is to compete in the Championship next season. They have until 14 February to do that.
A statement from the RFU said: "The proposed buyers of Worcester Warriors had informed the RFU that they were not prepared to meet the conditions set, which included commitments not to dispose of land around Sixways Stadium without approval and were unable to satisfy the RFU of the sources and sufficiency of funding.
"The RFU was not able to confirm the suitability of the prospective owners. Therefore, the RFU Board was unable to approve their application.Â
"If that position changes within the deadline, the RFU will be able to reconsider whether the application can be approved, but if not, then unfortunately the RFU decision will remain the same."
Atlas Worcester Warriors has said it continues to be in talks with the RFU.
MPs and council leaders have previously joined forces to make clear that whilst there is significant development potential at Sixways, they will only support development on or around the site if it used to support the interests of the rugby club and the community.
Worcester’s MP, Robin Walker, has reiterated his calls for professional elite rugby to be at the forefront of the future of the Worcester Warriors.
He said: “I’m delighted to see the process of saving the Warriors taking a step forward. It will be relief to have clarity on the future ownership and to be able to start building for the future.
"We must now make sure that they are able to compete and win a fair place at the top flight of rugby once again. I want the RFU to run a fair and transparent process in order to assess the new owners and to ensure there is a degree of transparency going forward that avoids this club, or indeed any other, getting into the kind of mess it was in last year.
"It is right that they should apply a more rigorous fit and proper process than they did in the past, but it needs to be one that works for commercial investors with rugby at the heart of their plans. I am hopeful that if everyone gets around the table over the coming weeks, this can be done in time for the Warriors to be included in the championship next season."