Diamond leading charge to buy Warriors

Steve Diamond is leading a consortium interested in taking Worcester Warriors out of administration and back into the Premiership within four years.

The consortium, named Sixways Village which will also include former Leicester chief executive Simon Cohen, also has the backing of two as yet unnamed investors.

“My goal is to create a sustainable business that is able to compete back in the Premiership within the next three or four years, and allows professional rugby to thrive in Worcester,” said Diamond, who hopes the venture will achieve preferred bidder status with administrators Begbies Traynor.

“It took us a month to put the plan together and we presented it last week to the RFU and the PRL (Premiership Rugby Limited).

“Now a decision needs to be made and hopefully that decision is for the right organisation to put Worcester Warriors back on the map.”

Over 20 players have left Worcester since the club itself went into administration and the company paying player wages, WRFC players limited, was liquidated.

Administrators confirmed recently that assets such as the club’s stadium and grounds, which had been purchased by separate companies from owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring, were part of the administration package.

And though the club will face life in the Championship from next season, Diamond had no complaints about the punishment, and was relishing the prospect of re-building the club in a sustainable fashion.

“I think due punishment and sanction is required – I’m prepared to take the relegation and it may take us two or three years to get back to a position where we can challenge to get back into the Premiership,” added Diamond.

“It is a big opportunity to take the club into the Championship, where I’ve never coached or played.

“I think I’ve got a vision that could revolutionise the Championship and make people in the Premiership look down down and say, these guys are running sustainable rugby businesses, how do we follow suit?”

Jim O’Toole, former Warriors Chief Executive, is leading another consortium to buy the club, having begun his bid to take on the company in August.

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