Players and coaching staff at Worcester Warriors have promoted a message of unity amid reports the rugby club is set to enter administration.
HM Revenue and Customs recently served the Premiership club a winding-up notice in relation to unpaid taxes. Worcester received a £14million bail-out from the government at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to stay in business.
Club owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring have encountered criticism from fans and players alike (past and present) for their handling of the situation. England international Ollie Lawrence tweeted a cowboy emoji on Tuesday, which was interpreted as a thinly veiled dig at the duo.
The development means dozens of players, coaches, stadium and hospitality staff could be left out of work on the eve of the new English campaign, which starts September 9. The Times reported Premiership Rugby is preparing two different schedules for the coming season: one with Worcester in the rotation and another without.
A statement published by Whittingham and Goldring on Monday assured they are "working through a number of options" in an attempt to keep the club viable. It's possible that Worcester could be permitted to play this Premiership season but could have to relocate away from Sixways Stadium.
Players and head coach Steve Diamond sought to lift morale in a coordinated collage of posts on Tuesday, however, all posting the same image of the squad linked in arms. Lawrence, club captain Ted Hill, Francois Venter and new forwards coach Nick Easter were among those who posted the image with a simple caption reading: "Together."
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Following on from his 'cowboy' post, Lawrence insisted he wasn't "slating the reputation of the people that pay our wages. However, he feared the legacy of late owner Cecil Duckworth—who brought the club from its lower-league roots up to the Premiership in 2004—was "close to being tarnished."
"There just comes a point where people’s careers/livelihoods/families are being affected," wrote the 22-year-old. "Which I believe that (sic) should be answered for. I have nothing but respect for the whole players and staff for continuing to pitch up everyday with all this uncertainty… The rumour mill will continue, but it’s above us now as to what happens, but for now we’ll crack on as a team and wait to see what unfolds."
Club legend Chris Pennell—who made 253 appearances during a 14-year Worcester career—said it was "so sad to see what is happening to OUR club." He continued: "The fans, players and staff deserve to feel the joy of a packed Sixways and the support of the people of Worcester. This is not Cecil’s legacy."
There are also questions being asked of several land deals that have been completed in recent days despite the administration threat. A separate company—of which Whittingham and Goldring are also directors—has purchased the Sixways Stadium car park for £50,000.
Training pitches used and previously owned by the Warriors were sold to a new company, real estate company, Worcester Capital Investments Ltd, for £350,000 in June. It's understood those deals will be investigated and possibly overturned if the club enters administration.
The current sum of unpaid tax is believed to be in the region of £6million, while the entire Sixways site was independently valued in 2020 at £16.7m. The Warriors won the Premiership Rugby Cup last season and are currently due to open the new league campaign away to London Irish on September 10.
