The household of ex-Worcester proprietor Cecil Duckworth have issued an announcement to say they’re ‘very saddened’ on the at-risk Premiership membership’s present woes.
Duckworth, who turned membership president after leaving the board, died in 2020.
However his household have now issued an announcement expressing their disappointment.
The assertion, issued on the Twitter feed of Warriors membership legend Chris Pennell, stated: “The Duckworth Household are very saddened by the latest information at Worcester Warriors.
“Cecil and different spent a few years increase the rugby membership and we all know he can be devastated by the occasions that are unfolding.
“Our ideas are with the employees and gamers.”
A number of former Warriors gamers have additionally expressed comparable emotions on Twitter.
A Warriors followers protest is deliberate outdoors Sixways on Wednesday evening forward of the FA Cup preliminary spherical tie between non-league soccer facet Worcester Raiders, who share the stadium, and fellow Hellenic League membership Malvern City.
Warriors present homeowners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring issued an announcement on Monday afternoon to say they have been nonetheless hopeful of avoiding administration.
However there was hypothesis through social media on Tuesday morning that London-based audit, tax & consulting companies agency RSM are near being appointed, which might make Warriors the primary Premiership membership pressured into administration since Richmond in 1999.
It could additionally imply them beginning the brand new season with an computerized 35-point penalty, in accordance with the present RFU rules.
In the meantime, English Soccer League membership Morecambe, who even have Whittingham and Goldring on their board, have issued an announcement to emphasize that the League One Shrimps are unaffected by the Warriors state of affairs – and that there is no such thing as a direct tie-up between the 2 golf equipment.
They stated: “The homeowners wish to reassure supporters that this has no impression on Morecambe FC.
“Our funds are impartial, as are our budgets. We don’t owe Worcester Warriors any monies and the one shared place is that we now have homeowners in widespread.”
Cecil Duckworth’s legacy
Worcester started their journey to attempt to turn into a power in English membership rugby when Cecil Duckworth bought concerned with the membership in 1997.
He injected the funds to engineer a primary promotion to the Premiership underneath coach John Mind in 2004.
However Warriors have by no means kicked on from there. They’ve been relegated twice and have by no means completed increased than eighth of their 16 years within the prime flight, the place they’ve been because the third of their three promotions in 2015.
Lengthy-time benefactor Duckworth lowered his involvement in 2013, when Sixways Holdings Restricted took over, underneath Greg Allen.
Duckworth remained a part of the brand new board as membership president, till his loss of life in 2020.
By then, the membership had been offered to a four-man consortium fronted by Jed McCrory in October 2018, till he left in June 2019, since when Whittingham and Goldring took cost.
Native MP Walker requires pressing assembly
Worcester MP – and Warriors fan – Robin Walker
“As a long-term supporter of the membership, I’m deeply involved in regards to the present state of affairs. Not solely is that this a Premiership membership, with followers, gamers, and employees who reside for the membership, however it is usually a neighborhood asset which Worcester residents worth very extremely.
“I’m calling for an pressing assembly, backed by colleagues in Parliament, to make sure that any future proposals for the membership and its grounds have the pursuits of the neighborhood and the game at its coronary heart. I hope we will meet with Worcestershire County Council, Worcester Metropolis Council, and Wychavon District Council on the earliest alternative to debate what they’ll do collectively to guard this important sporting and neighborhood asset.
“It is crucial that we do all we will to attempt to save the membership, however even within the unlooked-for occasion of some type of administration, then native residents must trust that the membership’s property are used for sporting and neighborhood worth, and never offered off for revenue.
“The late Cecil Duckworth labored tirelessly to make sure this as soon as humble membership turned a aggressive outfit on the prime of English rugby and I agree together with his household that it’s important all of us work to guard his legacy.
“I can recall attending video games once they have been in North Midlands Division Two with Cecil, then watching as his imaginative and prescient and dedication noticed all of them the way in which to the highest flight.
“It is important that native councils work along with supporters of the membership to make sure that they’ve the absolute best probability to remain there.”
