CHAIRMAN Bill Bolsover confirmed Worcester Warriors held brief talks with the Scottish Rugby Union over the possibility of a takeover.

There were rumours in December that the SRU were looking to take a controlling interest in Warriors but not purchase the 50-acre Sixways site.

It was also suggested that Worcester could act as a base for Scottish players aiming to play in England’s top flight.

But Bolsover admitted the discussions with SRU “did not last long” as previous owners Sixways Holdings Limited went on to complete an undisclosed deal with a four-man consortium led by Jed McCrory.

“(The talks with SRU were) right at the very beginning and didn’t last for long,” Bolsover said.

“We didn’t think it was right and I don’t think anyone felt that it was right to have a club here supporting what is happening in Scotland.”

Bolsover said there were “two or three other options on the table” but they were not situated close to Worcester unlike McCrory who is based in Alcester.

McCrory’s consortium includes Errol Pope who is the primary funder, Scott Priestnall and former Saracens and Sale Sharks player David Seymour.

“We have been talking to Jed for a number of months and been speaking to others as well,” Bolsover said.

“But Jed certainly came across as a guy who wanted to take this club further. He had the financial backing to take it further and he lives locally.

“In the end Sixways Holdings agreed he was the guy we should move ahead with for the deal.”

Long-term benefactor Cecil Duckworth and Bolsover had also planned to rescue the club if Sixways Holdings Limited were unable to find a buyer.

“This is Cecil’s life,” said Bolsover who will remain as chairman while Duckworth will stay as president.

“If there was a situation where the owners desperately needed to get out and we had no other (options) then Cecil and I had talked about what we would have to do to keep this club going.

“But it really would have been the final ultimatum and we didn’t think it would get to that.

“But we wanted to make sure there was a back stop in case suddenly Sixways Holdings said ‘We have tried for 18 months and we can’t sell it, we could not find anyone else’ then Cecil and I would say ‘We are going to have to support this club because we are not going to let it go’.

“It was very unlikely but it was there if we needed it.”

Bolsover added: “Cecil is vital. I said to Jed that we have got to keep Cecil as our president. He is known as Worcester Warriors — he started it.

“Jed is very happy with that.”