CECIL Duckworth has ruled out signing a big name coach until the summer despite the temptation of an array of star names.

Stars including Joel Stransky, Ellery Hanley and Richard Hill have all been linked to new coaching roles since Worcester sacked Les Cusworth last week.

Will Carling has also announced his retirement from playing and former England flanker Mike Teague, who played for England under Geoff Cooke, watched Worcester's 30-8 victory over Henley on Saturday.

But Duckworth, Worcester's millionaire chairman, has scotched rumours that the club are about to make a high-profile appointment as Director of Rugby.

Duckworth said he has not spoken to any coaches and will wait until the end of the season before making any decisions.

Geoff Cooke has taken temporary charge and Duckworth said the former England boss will be at the heart of any decision this summer. "We haven't spoken to any of these people and Mike Teague being at the ground on Saturday was a total coincidence," said Duckworth.

"He came with one of our junior rugby coaches to see Tim Smith so talk of him joining is just speculation.

"We haven't spoken to anybody and would have waited until the end of the season to change things but the Rotherham situation changed our thinking.

"There's no rush and Geoff Cooke will be central to our decision on any additional coaching we should require if any. After all he is a coach of the highest order.

"These high profile men are interesting but we're taking our time and don't want to be rushed into anything."

Rugby Union's perpetually uncertain future is also stalling contract talks for both players and coaching staff.

Worcester are worried about talk of a franchised division one which could block any promotion or relegation for up to three years.

"We want to know where rugby is going and are trying to find out the views of other clubs," added Duckworth.

"If they press ahead with the plan to ring fence division one for one, two or three years then I don't think that's conducive to competitive rugby.

"The interest in the league will wane and virtually half the games will have nothing on them which would be a backward step for rugby."

* Four trialists will hope to attract the eye of Worcester's selectors when they face Kidderminster Carolians at Sixways tonight (7pm).

Prop Haydn Jefferies and wing Ian Warbuck are from Oxford University, while hooker Stuart Pearl and prop James Hadfield are from Leamington.

Worcester: Goodfellow, Warbuck, Currier, Wilkes, Smaje, Higgins, Richardson, Jefferies, Pearl, Hadfield, Lammas, Jones, Scriven, Daws, Knight. Res: Linnett, Robinson, Hall, Bassett, Merlin, Ward, Eastwood, Beechey, Cattel, Morgan.