He’s a real Diamond
Worcester coach offers to pay bills of club’s staff
STEVE DIAMoND has offered to help struggling Worcester staff to pay bills, out of his own pocket, as they anxiously wait to discover whether a wages shortfall will be rectified by the club early this week.
The Warriors squad will today resume the countdown to their Premiership opener at London Irish on Saturday, against a backdrop of continuing turmoil.
While players’ August pay belatedly arrived in full over the weekend, other staff members were informed by embattled owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham that they will only receive 65 per cent of their monthly salary.alary.
This has further souredred relations betweenn employees and the clubb hierarchy. Sources have indicated to Sportsmail that staff have been assured the remaining 35 per cent of their wages will be paid early this week, but there is widespreadd scepticism about thathat pledge.
Diamond (right) has offered to assist if any colleagues — many on modest salaries — run into difficulties. As yet, it is understood that there have been no takers, but a protracted delay might lead to the director of rugby’s offer being accepted.
While there is a spirit of distrust and animosity towards Goldring and Whittingham, the Worcester squad and staff are united behind Diamond as he strives to lead them through this time of upheaval.
He has paid for food at the club in the last week and been bullish in adopting a ‘ business as usual’ approach in the midst of a crisis which has left Worcester on the brink of collapse. remarkably, it appears as if the Warriors squad could be fully intact for the encounter with Irish at Brentford, with the anticipated exodus on hold. As wages have been paid, players remain under contract.
Flanker Ky l e Hatherell had been reported to be on his way to a French club for a transfer fee, but Worcester are now hopeful that he will return to training today.
Another wanted man is Scotland and Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe, but it is thought that he has bought a house in the area and is committedted to stayings at Sixways unlessunles the club go out of business.bus In that event,
thuc the Scottish rugby union are alert to the chance of bringing him backb to Glasgow, while racingr 92 are also interested.in
It is understood that SaracensSa are no longer on stand-by to face Irish on SaturdayS — with the removalremov of that contingency plan reflectingrefle confidence at Premiership rugby that Worcester can fulfil that fixture and the ones that follow it. But as fraught talks over a take-over rumble on, the situation remains on a knife-edge.
Club staff have reached breaking point. In a message to Sportsmail, one wrote: ‘ The recent weeks of mental torture, anxiety, and confusion take some beating, but last week topped the charts.
‘More broken, unfulfilled promises, leaving you feeling emotionally and financially drained and empty.
‘You hope lessons would have been learned, but you should have learned not to hope.
‘How do I feel about turning up to work for 65 per cent of nothing? The answer is I don’t know how I feel any more.’