Homelessness and health scares add to Worcester’s desperate pleas
THE emotional toll of Worcester’s desperate plight was laid bare by players and staff yesterday — with revelations about enforced homelessness and a secret cancer scare part of fresh pleas for the club to be saved from oblivion.
As it emerged that employees still had not received wages which co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham pledged to pay on Wednesday evening, there were renewed fears about the Warriors’ ability to survive this crisis. In a campaign on social media, players and staff discussed what the club meant to them, revealed their personal circumstances and urged the hierarchy to safeguard Worcester’s future. With tense takeover talks ongoing, there were profound personal testimonies, highlighting the human element behind the threat to a sporting institution. Rookie scrum-half Ollie Wynn revealed he had been made homeless after a house used by academy players was repossessed last month, due to unpaid mortgage payments.
‘Ever since I was a child looking up to my dad, I’ve always wanted to play rugby,’ said Wynn. ‘Fortunately, I signed a contract three years ago with Worcester. I’ve loved every minute, but unfortunately the last three weeks have taken a turn. We haven’t been paid and I’ve been made homeless recently. ‘Fortunately for me, one of the older boys has put me up in their house. It just shows how tight we are as a unit.’ Another poignant post came from analyst Simon Norris, who said: ‘Not many people know this, but during last season I had a cancer scare. I got through it and it was pretty emotional. I kept it a secret and kept coming to work because I love the game of rugby.’ Fly-half Fin Smith said: ‘We’re really frustrated. We haven’t been paid and don’t feel like we’re getting what we deserve. We need answers.’ England’s Ollie Lawrence added: ‘I’ve been part of the Warriors family since I was 14. I hope the right decisions are made to allow this club to have a future.’ The owners have put their football club, Morecambe FC, up for sale and agents are seeking to sell the two clubs as a package. A consortium led by former chief executive Jim O’Toole continues to negotiate to take control, providing the club are placed into administration to write off about £11million of their debts.
Meanwhile, Marland Yarde has apologised for the ‘hurt and distress’ he has caused after confirming no action will be taken against him following his arrest in January. Former England wing Yarde, 30, confirmed he was the subject of an investigation into what he described in a social media post last night as a ‘very serious offence’. ‘Although innocent of the crime alleged against me, I take full responsibility for having put myself in a situation where an allegation could be made,’ Yarde said. ‘I want to apologise to family and friends for the hurt and distress I caused them.’ Sportsmail understands that after his arrest, Yarde has now left Sale Sharks — the club who employed him at the start of the year. ‘I look forward to resuming my career doing what I love which is playing rugby,’ Yarde said.