Worcester facing mass exodus with wages unpaid and winding-up order to be heard

The crisis engulfing Gallagher Premiership club Worcester has deepened.

Players could be released from their contracts next Wednesday when a winding-up order issued by HM Revenue and Customs is heard in the high court.

Player contracts and those of some club staff are held by a company called WRFC Players Ltd, which is not in administration and is the subject of HMRC’s action.

It is a subsidiary company of WRFC Trading Ltd, for which administrators Begbies Traynor are seeking a buyer.

Two consortiums, one involving former Worcester chief executive Jim O’Toole, are understood to have expressed interest in buying the club out of administration.

All Warriors players and staff were due to be paid on Friday, but the PA news agency can confirm that has not happened, meaning players and staff are entitled to look elsewhere for employment.

For anyone wishing to leave, that would mean a 14-day notice period, before becoming a free agent two weeks later.

But if WRFC Players Ltd is liquidated, Worcester would automatically have no contracted players or staff, effectively seeing them become unemployed, and leaving Warriors with seemingly no option but to drop out of English rugby’s top division.

Worcester’s debts total more than than £25million, including at least £6m in unpaid tax, while owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have been accused of asset-stripping the club.

The club failed to meet a Rugby Football Union deadline on Monday requesting proof of insurance cover and funding for the club’s monthly payroll, which resulted in them being suspended from all competitions.

Goldring and Whittingham, who own WRFC Players Ltd, could request an extension of the winding-up order of up to 14 days, therefore offering a chance for prospective club buyers to retain staff.

In another development, PA understands that administrators were only able to access Worcester’s computer server on Thursday night to start going through relevant material.

The club’s IT provider is a creditor, and it is thought they are owed more than £20,000. All wifi at Sixways and server access was switched off a fortnight ago.

Worcester’s Premiership rivals and neighbours Gloucester, meanwhile, have offered Warriors season ticket holders a 50 per cent discount on tickets to watch the Cherry and Whites’ Premiership and Premiership Cup home games.

Gloucester were due to host Worcester on Saturday before Warriors were suspended. They will now hold an opening training session at Kingsholm instead.

In a message to Worcester fans published on the Gloucester website, club chief executive Lance Bradley said: “On behalf of everyone at Gloucester Rugby, I want to say how sorry we all are to hear about the problems your club is going through.

“While we can’t help with you being able to watch Worcester Warriors at the moment, we can help with you being able to watch alternative top-flight rugby games.

“So, while your team are unable to play, we would like to offer Worcester Warriors season ticket holders the chance to purchase tickets at a 50 per cent discount.

“We don’t expect you to suddenly switch your allegiance to Gloucester Rugby and you are welcome to wear your Worcester shirts.

“Our clubs are rivals on the pitch, but not off it. When we see our neighbours going through a tough time it just feels like the right thing to welcome you to our ‘Holm.”