By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-09-26 09:23:31 | Updated at 2024-09-30 09:25:02
4 days ago
Worcester Warriors owner Chris Holland has submitted plans to redevelop the wound-up former Premiership club's Sixways home - including a hotel, a medical centre and a commitment to "return Warriors to professional rugby".
Two years to the day since they were suspended by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and had the non-playing side of their operation put into administration, Holland confirmed that revised plans are now with Wychavon District Council, the local authority on the north side of Worcester.
The application to Wychavon was made by Junction 6 Ltd, a new 'letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres' business set up by Holland, the sole director, in February 2024.
It also includes the redevelopment of the West Stand at Sixways, as well as the temporary North Stand, a multi-storey car park, a golf driving range and a solar farm.
But the key to all the planning - and the brightest piece of news Warriors fans have had in two years - is Holland's stated intention to return professional rugby to Sixways.
"Junction 6 are committed to return Worcester Warriors to professional rugby and to ensure that Sixways is the centre of excellence for sport, conferences and events in the area," said Holland, who also still owns fellow former Premiership side Wasps.
Currently Sixways is home only to football - to non-league side Worcester Raiders, who play in the Hellenic League Premier, and Worcester City Women, who play in Division One Midlands.
Warriors' long-term future is now in the hands of the RFU, who are still to decide at what level they might be allowed to return, following continued opposition from Championship clubs towards restructuring plans.
But, while being allowed to compete again as early as 2025 at second-tier level might seem a bit fanciful, Warriors can at least look forward now with some hope.
A new logo and website were introduced this week - and a substantial five-figure sum has already been spent on refurbishing the eight-year-old Sixways artificial playing surface.
Holland also stressed that they will take their time, to ensure that every 'i' is dotted and every 't' crossed in pursuit of their end goal - two years on from Warriors men's side hosting their last game and almost 12 months on from the Premier 15s women's team following suit after they lost their private sponsors.
"Junction 6 are aware of the application on the Wychavon District Council planning portal that relates to a screening opinion that is required to determine whether it is necessary to undertake a full environmental impact assessment for any planning application," said Holland.
"To ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past we are reviewing the enabling development options around the stadium to remove any single point of failure in the future."
Holland first became involved with Warriors when, during the attempt made by previous owners Jim O'Toole and James Sandford's Atlas Group to relaunch the club, he made a £1.5m loan to them. But, when Atlas failed to pay back the loan, Holland became the new owner.
WRFC Trading Ltd, one of the companies run by Warriors' previous co-owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring, went into administration in September 2022, before WRFC Players Ltd was wound up in the High Court in London a week later.
Holland's other failed Premiership club Wasps remain linked with another move to Kent, almost two years on from leaving Coventry and following initial reports that they might use Sixways.
