Worcester Warriors going to the wall: A timeline

Gallagher Premiership club Worcester have made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks after being plunged into a financial crisis that has threatened their future.

Here the PA news agency looks at the saga, which began in mid-August and has overshadowed the start of English rugby’s domestic season.

August 17: Worcester say their directors are in “continuing dialogue” with HM Revenue and Customs after being issued with a winding-up petition. The issue in question is an outstanding tax amount owed by the Gallagher Premiership club to HMRC.

August 31: Worcester cancel a pre-season match against Glasgow, casting doubt on their participation in the Premiership season. In a statement released on social media by Warriors director of rugby Steve Diamond, it is confirmed that the clash in Inverness will not take place because players and staff remain unpaid.

September 1: Club cleared to play London Irish in their Premiership opener after heading off a likely player exodus by promising the squad would be paid for August.

September 2: Worcester fly-half Fin Smith demands answers from the club as the squad still waits to be paid. England Under-20 star Smith takes part in a co-ordinated social media campaign in which players and management call for the club to be saved.

September 5: Four Worcestershire MPs – Robin Walker, Harriett Baldwin, Rachel Maclean and Mark Garnier – call for Worcester to be placed in administration.

September 10: Worcester collapse to a heavy defeat in their Premiership opener, losing 45-14 against London Irish.

September 13: The Warriors say that Worcester co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have agreed terms with an undisclosed buyer for the club. Terms of agreement are being scrutinised by respective legal teams and have still to be signed.

September 15: Worcester release a statement to make it clear they have not been placed into administration after a Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport letter suggested they had been.

September 15: The Rugby Football Union says Worcester will be suspended from all competitions unless club chiefs provide the RFU with safety certification to stage matches at Sixways Stadium by midday on September 16.

September 16: Worcester staff call for a change of ownership and express their anger over “continual broken promises” that have left their future in jeopardy.

September 18: Worcester’s second Premiership game of the season – against Exeter at Sixways – goes ahead after the club meet the deadline to provide safety certification to stage matches. The Warriors lose 36-21.

September 18: Worcester boss Steve Diamond admits the Warriors’ future remains in serious doubt, saying: “I don’t know how long we can keep going with this, as I’ve been informed that negotiations are taking place behind the scenes, but I am not party to them. There are limits to how many times players or staff can turn out on goodwill without being paid.”

September 21: Club set two deadlines amid a warning from the RFU that they will be suspended from all competitions if they are unable to fulfil three criteria. The Warriors have until 5pm on September 26 to provide evidence that they have the required insurance cover in place, the funds to meet payroll and a meaningful plan to lift Sixways out of crisis. In addition, Worcester must prove by 12pm on Thursday the capability to stage Saturday’s Premiership match against Newcastle.

September 24: Worcester beat Newcastle 39-5 after being given the green light to stage the fixture.

September 26: Worcester suspended from all competitions with immediate effect after they failed to meet RFU deadline. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: “We appreciate this is incredibly difficult news for fans, staff and players. We met with players and staff last week to explain why this action would be necessary, and regrettably without assurances in place, we have had to take this action to protect everyone’s best interests.”