DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold hopes his decision not to “jump ship” and be “open and honest” with players has eased disruption at Worcester Warriors.

Gold has been appointed USA’s head coach but will see out his contract at Worcester which finishes at the end of the Aviva Premiership season.

His pending departure is another setback for Warriors who have been put up for sale after reportedly losing more than £16million over the last three seasons.

But Gold insists spirits in the camp have not changed due to the way he approached his squad over his exit and his commitment to Warriors’ cause this term.

Worcester face Bath at The Rec on Saturday (3pm).

“If you are not up front about the situation that’s when morale can start to be affected,” Gold said.

“(The USA job) was confirmed last Friday and I felt the best way of dealing with it was to be open and honest about it.

“We called the meeting on Monday morning and told the players what had happened.

“Carl Hogg said to me the other day you are never going to be in a problem if you tell the truth so we did. There is no sinister story.

“The important thing is that this must not be disruptive for the guys and I hope it is not going to be.

“We have got a job to do and we have got to be start winning some rugby games quickly.”

Chairman Bill Bolsover said he hoped to secure the new man for a three-year period and Gold has backed Worcester’s bosses in their search.

“The owners are very sensible about what is happening and are committed to the fact that they are going to get a really good candidate,” he said.

“There are really good candidates out there and they are going to give them security of tenure and the group can grow.

“I have been overly sensitive to speak a lot of players individually and I have been assured that the fact that I am staying on (means they) don’t feel that anybody is jumping ship and abandoning it.”

He added: “I think it is important that if I leave I am able to see the values of an individual that comes in.

“If he place is going to be in good stead and they are sensible in terms of recruitment in key positions where we have got strength and depth issues then things can turn around quite quickly.”