Director of Rugby Steve Diamond spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (3pm).

Here’s what Steve had to say:

On a potential new buyer for the club

  • I know that there is a lot of work going on in the background but I don’t know any details of who the potential investors are.
  • But the energy levels have been high in training since the announcement came out. It’s good to have some good positive news and hopefully they can fulfil that with the eventuality of a new investor being brought in.
  • The owners have kept all the senior members of staff involved. They have assured me that it’s imminent and that they are rugby fans.
  • This place is in such a bad place financially that it needs rebooting from bottom to top. If they bring other people in to do that then fine, I can work with anybody.
  • What I need and what the club needs is for this to be done as quickly as possibly.

What about off-field staff?

  • The off-field staff have been paid 65 per cent of their August salaries. The Heads of Department are as hard-working and concientious as the rugby side of the business.
  • They have got a good team spirit over there but it’s anxious times for them.
  • Let’s be honest, you might enjoy your work but you wouldn’t go to work if you didn’t get paid would you?
  • Not everyone is fortunate to be a professional sportsman where you earn well above the national average. Most people who work here are casual workers or are on the national minimum wage and they can’t cope with not being paid.
  • That’s where their anxieties come from and they voiced their concerns in a very professional manner.
  • There has been no union-type behaviour. It’s been collective and it has been politely put the senior management who are trying to deal with it.

How much are the squad looking forward to playing at Sixways again?

  • The supporters of the club have been fantastic with all their messages of support on social media – not just to the players but everyone who works here – so we are very excited to be playing back at Sixways.
  • Rugby is big in the South Midlands and South West, unlike Manchester where I come from where it’s football, football.
  • Worcester is a big community club. The major sponsors are local, the supporters obviously are a lot of the players are from the area and so the club means a great deal to a lot of people. Living down here now I appreciate just much the club matters to the people of Worcester.
  • But it has given me a refreshing outlook on how much people care about the club.
  • The players are up for it. Even though we didn’t the result we wanted at London Irish there was no lack of effort or endeavour.

How difficult has it been to focus on rugby?

  • Subliminally you don’t think it is. You manage to push your way through and people put on a brave face but I think our result week shows the effect it has having.
  • I have put together a competitive squad here over the past six months and we weren’t competitive last week.
  • That was down to a couple of things: the mindset of people being unsure and anxious and also the physical state, not being able to do the levels of contact training needed to maintain the levels of abrasiveness and physicality you need in a game.
  • But I have a very simple job. It is to get the players into the best physical and mental condition to play each game and if we are good enough on the day we will challenge and win.
  • The players came in and enthused on Tuesday and they trained well on Tuesday.
  • There are a lot of things that are happening away from here that we can’t control.
  • We have young lads who have just got married, just bought houses, new babies on the way and they are getting sleepless nights. You throw in the worry about a job and it does affect people.
  • I am not a sports psychologist but what I do know is how to look after people and to a man they have all delivered.
  • I can’t say that we delivered land performed last week because we got a good hiding off a very good London Irish team.
  • But for the first ten minutes of the game we were in it and that shows that we got the preparation right. We just ran out of steam.
  • I said at the end of last season that we would have one of the fittest, hard-working teams and I believe that we will have.
  • But if you don’t do contact for a month and not play pre-season games then you are behind the eight-ball.

Is the funding in place to ensure Sunday’s match goes ahead?

  • As far as I am concerned, the game is on and we are preparing for the game. All buttons have been pushed for go.
  • The owners are doing everything to make sure the game is played which means suppliers are paid, staff are paid and casual workers coming in are paid.
  • If people aren’t paid and suppliers aren’t paid, then I don’t think logistically the game can go on. However, from the information
  • I have been given this morning I am confident that the game will go on.
  • Big things like stewarding, ambulances are in place and catering is being put in place.
  • All the medical staff have been paid, all the insurances are in place it’s making sure that, physically, the gates can be opened and people can come here and enjoy themselves and get a beer.

Injuries

Ted Hill, Duhan van der Merwe and Fin Smith will again be missing this week.

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