Worcester staff lay into owners

WORCESTER staff demanded a change in ownership yesterday after helping the club avoid suspension from all rugby competitions. This afternoon, the University of Worcester Warriors take on Harlequins Women at Sixways in the Allianz Cup, in front of a reduced capacity of 1,999. Tomorrow, Steve Diamond’s Worcester men’s team will face Exeter in the Gallagher Premiership, with the crowd limit set at 4,999. The fact the RFU has approved both fixtures to go ahead is a tribute to the commitment of the club’s staff, who are still awaiting delayed wages from last month. A statement released on their behalf called for the departure of co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham. It read: ‘Despite not receiving our remaining 35 per cent salary for August — and some players and staff (receiving) nothing at all — we have chosen to do whatever we can to make sure the two games go ahead. We cannot promise this goodwill will continue indefinitely. ‘We remain angry at the broken promises and lack of communication from those above and hope for new ownership to come in.’ One employee told Sportsmail: ‘The club have acted disgracefully, with no integrity.’ Multiple sources last night said Goldring has been threatening employees with disciplinary action and even dismissal in response to their statement.