Worcester allowed to walk itself to the graveyard, says Diamond

STEVE DIAMOND last night fumed that Worcester had been allowed to ‘walk itself to the graveyard’ as he urged his players to treat today’s tie with Newcastle as if it is their last game at Sixways. The Warriors will fulfil the fixture then have a squad night out, before bracing themselves to be suspended from all competitions. Worcester have until 5pm on Monday to satisfy the RFU that they have the funds and plans to remain viable, but there is a strong chance they will go into administration that day. ‘We are in limbo from Monday,’ said Diamond, the club’s director of rugby. ‘We have been in near-purgatory for a while and it is starting to come to a head. I am going to have a look at some places in the sun in the next fortnight if we are suspended. I might give the players time off, but whether they can afford to go on holiday is another matter. ‘I don’t know how it has got to this. It is sad and diabolical that it has been allowed to walk itself to the graveyard, virtually. I never thought it would get to this. ‘It’s like the death of a dog — you don’t want the poor thing to go to the vet on its last legs but you have to take it. ‘Administration could be a saviour but it’s also a restructure and it’s not as it was. It can’t stay as it was because it’s failed. ‘If there’s any light at the end of the tunnel, it’s not bright.’ Meanwhile, RFU and Premiership Rugby sources have disclosed that they were not informed about the asset-stripping which took place at Worcester last month — a revelation that will raise fresh concerns about the governance of a sport facing financial meltdown.