What happens to Worcester Warriors now? Will they play again this season?

IT will go down as the darkest day in the history of Worcester Warriors after the club's players and staff headed for the exit door following the court's decision to liquidate part of the club.

It means that all players and staff at the club were automatically unemployed, leaving them no choice but to find new clubs and jobs.

But what happens now?

Not everything has been liquidated

It is important to note that only the company that employs the players and staff has been liquidated by the court.

The main company for the rugby club is WRFC Trading Limited, and that is the one that was placed into administration last Monday. But it was not wound up in court and it has had the winding up petition suspended.

It is where all the rugby debt lies (in the region of £25 million) but if a buyer can provide the funds to get out of the debt, they can keep the club alive.

So what happens now?

The process to find a buyer for the club remains the priority for the administrators Begbies Traynor.

We were told there are two interested parties, one of which remains the consortium lead by Jim O'Toole and James Sandford and they will both continue to try and find a deal.

But the sticking point for buyers is the control over the land.

The car parks and the training pitches have a charge over in favour of a commerical lender Triangle Petroleum, which must be repaid or the land reverts to that lender.

As for players and staff, well, some of the players will be offered contracts by other clubs both domestically and overseas, whilst some will essentially be jobless due to the fact a lot of club's in England have no room to buy players thanks to the reduced salary cap.

Staff will no doubt have to find new jobs away from Sixways.

Will Warriors play again this season?

Unlikely, is the honest answer.

Warriors remain suspended from all competition by the RFU and until the club can provide evidence they have the financial ability to fund the remainder of the season, they will stay suspended.

And they do not have much time in which to do that, as little time as a week at best.

So unless some money comes in very soon, the decision is likely to be that Warriors will not play any further part in the 2022/23 campaign.

What about the women's team?

This is where it is slightly different.

With there being a smaller budget in the women's game, there is hope that new funding will become available so that the University of Worcester Warriors will be able to keep their place in the Allianz Premier 15s.

RFU statement: "We are also liaising with the administrators in relation to discussions with potential funders, which may enable the University of Worcester Warriors women’s team to continue in the Allianz Premier 15s even if the men’s team cannot continue to participate this season."

What if the club do get a buyer?

If this happens, which people remain confident about within the club, then Worcester will more than likely be relegated as per Premiership rules with administration.

Begbies Traynor have asked that relegation is disapplied if a buyer comes forward and is successful due to the no-fault solvency claim.

So in the unlikely situation that they were successful, Warriors' future in the league would be saved.