Worcester Warriors bosses hit back at local MPs
Four MPs have called on the government to step in and put the club into administration.
Last updated 6th Sep 2022
The owners of Worcester Warriors, Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham, have criticised local MPs who've called on the government to put the club into administration.
Yesterday, MPs Robin Walker, Harriet Baldwin, Rachel Maclean, and Mark Garnier issued a statement, calling on the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport to step in. They said it was necessary to protect the club's premiership status ahead of the professional season starting.
They say they've lost faith in the current owners after a series of missed commitments. Worcester Warriors' staff and players have suffered from missed payroll deadlines and broken assurances.
However, bosses, Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring, said they were "disappointed" by the move by the four politicians.
In a statement online, they said: "We would like to make it clear that we have kept the DCMS fully informed about the financial situation at Worcester Warriors. They are aware of the options which are on the table to save the club together with the disastrous implications posed to the club by any administration."
They continued: "At no point have any of the MPs who put their names against the statement today been in touch with the club, with Colin, or with me. There has been no attempt at engagement whatsoever."
Worcester MP Robin Walker said "enough is enough". He continued: "I have been determined to secure the future of the Warriors, who are a huge asset to our city and county. I wanted to give every opportunity for a solution to be found which would avoid the club going into administration, but it is now clear that this is not in sight."
Last week, there was uproar when players and staff didn't receive their pay, despite promises that they would.
This has since been resolved and blamed on a technical issue at the bank.
Players flooded social media with videos of support for the club, with the titles TOGETHER #Worcester.
In the latest, Director of Rugby, Steve Diamond, addresses the team, saying: "Let's not blow it away in the last hour of our need, which is game week."
In one, scrum half Ollie Wynn, revealed he'd since been made homeless.