STRUGGLING Worcester Warriors are in a “better place” than they were at this stage last season.

That’s the view of director of rugby Gary Gold who has been quick to allay fears over a possible “crisis” at the Aviva Premiership club.

Warriors are up for sale and looking for a new boss after Gold’s decision to become USA’s head coach.

They also sit at the foot of the table with one point on the board after losing their opening five games.

But Gold reckons the situation at Warriors, who have reportedly lost more than £16million over the last three seasons, has been “obscured”.

“From what I have read the club is potentially looking for new ownership and now the director of rugby is looking to leave,” Gold said.

“But the reality is quite different.

“The club is not in a financial crisis in any way shape or form.

“The owners have said they are looking for additional investment because they want the club to run as a profitable or certainly not as a (loss-making club).

“That investment could mean something from a property developer who puts up a development at the back of a stand over here and there is additional income (from that).

“That’s where I think things have been obscured a little bit.

“I just think that because those things are happening and we are sitting at the bottom of the table it is very sensible to say there is a crisis.

“But there isn’t.

“There is a good group of players and there is a lot of young players who have signed on or are signing on for long-term contracts.

“Of course they are going to want to know that the club is going to be stable, but the club will be stable.”

Following the departure of Dean Ryan in the summer of 2016, head coach Carl Hogg and ex-high performance director Nick Johnston were given a joint leadership role.

It took the duo until the fifth game to record their first win, coming at home to Newcastle Falcons, after kicking off the season with two draws and two defeats.

But with Warriors hovering above the drop zone in January, Gold was brought in by the club’s bosses to help Hogg who had been put in sole charge in November.

Gold arrived with consultant Edward Griffiths and admitted there was “uncertainty” when he first joined the club.

“I know this sounds bizarre for me to say but I think we are in a better place than this time last year,” Gold said.

“I don’t know how many points we had at this stage after five rounds, but it would not have been a huge amount more than what we have got at the moment.

“But there was uncertainty. There was uncertainty around coaches and the playing staff.

“I think we have calmed that down now.

“But we are not playing well enough and we need to fix that.”

Warriors travel to Bath on Saturday looking to end their losing streak (3pm).