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CECIL Duckworth admits it will take time for Worcester to compete with the "fashionable" clubs in the top-flight but insists his club are heading in the right direction.

Warriors are in their third season in the Premiership and the Sixways chairman knows they can't yet compete with the top names in the domestic game when it comes to attracting the top players.

"I think, as the latest club to hit the Premiership, it takes time to establish your squad," he said. "It also does mean that if you are going to move from one club to another, you tend to go to more fashionable clubs, those ending up in the top four.

"We are not there yet. We have got to break into that so that players want to come here.

"They want to play in a team that has got chances of honours and somewhere where they are recognised.

"At the moment, maybe we are down the list as far as that is concerned."

The facilities at Sixways have recently been upgraded and, with further developments planned over the next two years, Duckworth is adamant players of the highest pedigree will start to see Worcester as a place where their careers can blossom.

He said: "We have Pat Sanderson at the moment and we have got Chris Horsman, who has qualified for Wales on a residential basis.

"I'm sure if he hadn't, he would have been playing for England. He is a superb player.

"We have got a couple in the England Under 21s in lock Richard Blaze and scrum-half Nick Runciman and there are one or two others who are knocking on the door.

"We are making progress but it is certainly not something you do overnight."

10:39am Wednesday 18th October 2006

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