Premiership rugby club Worcester Warriors is set to enter administration according to The Times, putting £14 million of taxpayer funds at risk.
The club were issued by HM Revenue & Customs with a winding-up petition last week over an unpaid tax bill of around £6m.
And at a court hearing, HM Revenue & Customs indicated their belief that the Warriors should be liquidated unless they can pay their debt.
In a statement, the club responded by saying it was “working on solutions to secure the future and to pay outstanding tax”.
Editor of Worcester News, Marcello Cossali-Francis, shared a worrying update on Saturday evening.
“I believe we have hit a point where there is serious unrest as the club and a real worry about the future of it. What needs to happen now is a full sale of all assets to ensure the club does not go bust, but what buyer would take the club and not the land? It’s a real mess, folks.
"I also understand there could also be some player movement through the club, regardless of the outcome of all this. Players need stability for their families and can’t be sat wondering where the next pay packet is coming from.
Ahead of the new season… this is so damaging."
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WORCESTER'S FIVE HIGHEST-PAID PLAYERS:
#5. Matt Kvesic
- Age: 30
- Position: Flanker
- Honours: England
Exeter Chiefs player Matt Kvesic during the warm up before the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at JW Bell Stadium on March 2nd - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#4. Fin Smith
- Age: 20
- Position: Fly-half
- Honours: England U20
Fin Smith of Worcester Warriors during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Worcester Warriors and Bristol Bears at Sixways Stadium, Worcester on 18 February 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#3. Ollie Lawrence
- Age: 22
- Position: Centre
- Honours: England
Tom Hendrickson of Exeter Chiefs is tackled by Matt Kvesic of Worcester Warriors, Ollie Lawrence of Worcester Warriors and Justin Clegg of Worcester Warriors during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Worcester Warriors at Sandy Park on 9 Oct 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#2. Ted Hill
- Age: 23
- Position: Flanker
- Honours: England
Ted Hill, Captain of Worcester Warriors on the break during the Gallagher Premiership rugby match between London Irish and Worcester Warriors at The Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford, London on March 14 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#1. Duhan van de Merwe
- Age: 27
- Position: Winger
- Honours: Scotland, British & Irish Lions
Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland slips the tackle from Maro Itoje of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship, 127th Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on January 6 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
