Cecile Coleman, the players’ performance chef, and her husband, season-ticket holder Andy Morgan.
Cecile: My responsibilities included preparing breakfast and lunch for the players, ordering the food, and collaborating with a nutritionist to plan the menu. Being a rugby fanatic from France, this position was a dream come true for me.
About nine months ago, I became aware of certain problems. They appeared not to be paying their vendors. It was always difficult when I needed anything done or wanted something more because there was never enough money. It was never a yes. We ran out of essentials such as protein powder to make shakes for the athletes. I was paid 65% of my salary in August, and since then I have received nothing.
The majority of employees quit in September after being informed they would not be paid. At 7 a.m., I had many players in the kitchen with me preparing breakfast. Once they arrived wearing chef whites. Physically, I was unable to complete anything on my own, so their assistance was appreciated.
I was devastated when it was done, and I still am. My job was akin to being a mother to fifty men, as I cooked for them and they always looked out for me; if I needed anything, they were always there. I have performed agency work in many locations and am now seeking a permanent position. I’ve received some financial assistance from Andy’s parents and have some savings, but it’s quite difficult.
Andy: My parents have been season-ticket holders for twenty-five years, and I’ve been attending since the late nineties. I volunteered for a total of sixty hours at Cecile’s organization at its conclusion. You can imagine how difficult it was to feed seventy players when we were forced to purchase food from a cash-and-carry.
The crew, who were unpaid at the time, kept the club operating through pure guts. Many people would not have made the effort. However, it resembles a large family. When we learned it was done, it felt as if our hearts had been ripped out. We live close to the ground and have friendships that have lasted for years. We all stood in the same section of the south stand and are now lifelong buddies.
They organized an online auction to offer money to the person who has none. They have mortgages and rent to pay. It is quite sad. We donated one of the auction’s prizes. We have a framed, signed shirt from the 2015-2016 season. There are certainly many individuals less fortunate than us, therefore we decided to do something.
On the weekend, we used to anticipate watching rugby and catching up with people we’ve known for ten to twenty years. That has disappeared. Only until you’ve completely lost it do you comprehend its meaning.
Luke Broadley, manager of the team
I was responsible for overseeing all rugby operations, logistics, contract negotiations, and training schedules. 24/7, it was an emotional roller coaster based on training, outcomes, and injuries. It was a large part of my work to maintain a positive environment off the field because it had such a significant impact on on-field performance.
This year we had to slash £1 million from the budget, so we knew things weren’t ideal, but we didn’t realize we were on the verge of a cliff. By the end, everyone was preparing for it, as we all knew it was imminent. However, it struck us like a tonne of bricks. When that hammer fell, it was painful.
I attempted to process it myself while juggling 50 players and 40 staff members. I received inquiries from everyone; everyone was in pain, everyone was ranting, and everyone was furious. Consequently, I was also attempting to manage my own emotions and mental process.
Considering the last time we received a full wage was in July, and this occurred in October, you’re fairly angry at this point. A week later, I was expecting my first child. They had stabbed us in the back and left us high and dry after we had labored for six months to salvage the club, while I sat at home with a newborn on the way.
I am currently unemployed, as are many other staff members; I do not know anyone who has walked into the same position. People with 20 years of professional sports expertise are suddenly working nine-to-five jobs just to make ends meet. I require payment by the end of November. By then, four or five months would have passed since my last payment date.
The only remaining hope is that Worcester can be rescued from bankruptcy. Worcester’s ability to press the reset button with all of this support behind them and hopefully prosper may be one of the best things to ever happen to the city.
Tracy Birch, the Warriors Supporters Club’s treasurer
Since 2004, my spouse and I have been season ticket holders and active members of the supporters club. We organized activities and coaches for away games, gathered individuals for international trips, and assisted with travel concerns. Primarily, we cared for individuals and engaged in social interaction. We attended all home and away games.
We heard rumors about financial difficulties, but we dismissed them as idle chatter. Even if they said they were going into administration, you do not believe them. My husband has been severely affected by this. Every Saturday was dominated by rugby.
To everyone else, it sounds absurd, but it was a tragedy. Because it was such an integral part of your life, and suddenly it just ended and disappeared. You do not spend every weekend with your buddies. We’ve just tried to distract ourselves and have barely watched any rugby.
Suspension from the Premier League seems like they are closing the door on us. Even if our appeal is successful, we have no players. The club played an important role in the Worcester community. Everywhere you go around the city, you see people wearing their Worcester shirts. What the owners did is still painful. Some families have lost everything in this region. Similar to the caretaker who lost his home because he lived on the premises.
Noah Heward, fullback for the Worcester Warriors
I just turned 22 years old, and this is my fourth season at Worcester – well, it was my fourth season, but it still sounds strange to say that. I joined the club when I was 13 or 14. I was a product of the academic system. It was obvious from what we had been informed that the club had financial flow issues, but I don’t believe anyone anticipated that it would reach the stage it did.
It’s difficult to say if it has truly sunk in because I haven’t had much time to analyze things on my own. I’ve been attempting to think logically about the next step.
I have no ill will toward anyone who, even before we were liquidated, was seeking possibilities elsewhere. Everyone understands that there is a limited length of time in which you may be a professional athlete and that you must seize those possibilities. I am thrilled for every player who has already signed up with a different club.
I purchased a home in Worcester last year and am currently enrolled at the Open University to study PPE [philosophy, politics, and economics]. However, I am still looking for a position in rugby. My agent is working extremely hard and doing everything possible. I wouldn’t get up on a Monday and train so hard if I wasn’t desperate to continue playing rugby and give it another chance.
How the club’s owners handled the problem is disrespectful to all members. All of the players, including those who have gone on to greater success, are sincerely devastated. There is still a genuine disappointment that Worcester is no longer providing this service, as it was beneficial.
Chris Derrick, kit manager
I had been a member of the club for exactly 15 years when it was dissolved. I began on October 5, 2007. I was organising the coaches for training sessions, supervised the washing, and ensuring that all equipment was prepared for the game. I was always on the road, going all across Europe to games and training camps.
We heard rumors that the boys weren’t getting paid, but I’ve been around a long time and such things do occur periodically. However, there was no communication whatsoever. We learned most of what was wrong from the press, as opposed to someone directly informing us of the situation.
Our line managers sent us a message saying, “That’s it now” after the 5th of October when the order to wind down the company was issued. Emotionally, it’s a bit of a shock, but I’m always seeking to improve and was prepared for a new chance.
Financially, I am in good shape; I have a small cushion. However, this sum of money will not continue forever, therefore I am unsure of what I will do in the future. Last week, I worked on a construction site; since then, I’ve found work to keep myself afloat.
Beth, my fiancée, also works at the club, so we’re doubly unfortunate. Both of us have lost our jobs, and we have a mortgage to pay. Her mother also worked in the ticket office, and her father has been a season-ticket holder for almost twenty years. So it has had a considerable effect on us.
Cecil [Duckworth, previous executive chairman] was involved when I first started working there, and it would be awful to lose what he envisioned for the club given how he built it up.
When I originally joined, there were likely twice as many individuals working behind the scenes as there are now. It will not be forgiven, but you must move on; you cannot linger on it. You must simply move on with your life.
