Future of Worcester Warriors secured with pre-pack deal

All jobs have been saved at Worcester Warriors after administrators secured a pre-pack deal that protects the future of the club.

Atlas Worcester Warriors appointed administrators at Quantuma yesterday after struggling to pay operational costs for the Sixways Stadium.

A consortium called Junction 6 has acquired Atlas and been funded by Loxwood Holdings alongside Total Compliance Solutions (TCS), an American-based medical company, Altas Sportstech, former player James Sandford and Warriors’ former CEO Jim O’Toole.

In May 2023, Loxwood Holdings led by Chris Holland which also owns Wasps Rugby Club stepped in to financially assist Atlas in completing its purchase of the former Worcester Warriors Rugby club from its administrators.

This financial assistance was intended to be a short-term position to help support the eventual recovery of Worcester Warriors and to allow Wasps a short-term option to play at Sixways Stadium in Worcester. Despite this financial assistance, which included providing funding to meet the operational costs of the Stadium, Atlas was unable to meet its ongoing financial obligations and therefore appointed administrators. 

Jim O’Toole and James Sandford’s Atlas consortium were appointed as Warrior’s new owners in February 2023 by administrators at Begbies Traynor. The pair have since departed as Wasp’s owner Chris Holland became a majority shareholder in Atlas last September. 

Holland and his company Loxwood Holdings is reportedly a 97% shareholder in Atlas as well as owning Wasps which he was a director at before it also fell into administration.

Brian Burke, Joint Administrator and managing director at Quantuma, said: “The sale secures the continued trading operation of the stadium, with funding being provided to energise the commercial operation, and support active steps to return elite level rugby, as Worcester Warriors. I am delighted to have achieved such a positive outcome, ultimately preserving all jobs, with no disruption to ongoing stadium operations. This also provides the opportunity to actively expand the operations at the stadium. We look forward to seeing Sixways become the thriving community asset that it can be.”

Chris Holland, director of Loxwood Holdings, commented: “We would hope that the community will flood back to Sixways under its new ownership and support what is an amazing sporting and conference and events facility. We have engaged and obtained the support of the Worcester Warriors Foundation, and the Worcester Amateur club and we will keep you updated through our website, which will be updated shortly. Professional sport is important to Sixways and to Worcester, and the support of the business community and the Warriors supporters is not taken for granted, and is of huge importance to us.”