IT might have ended on a disappointing note but 2005 has been a pretty memorable year for everybody involved with Worcester Warriors.

This time last year, Warriors were bottom of the Premiership pile and had just found themselves on the wrong end of a thrashing at Leicester.

Twelve months on, having retained their top-flight status, Worcester are now very much in Heineken Cup contention and Sixways is on the way to being established as a fortress.

The fact that Worcester lost their unbeaten home record on Monday takes the gloss off a remarkable year but it shows how far the club have come in that time that Bath's win was regarded as a shock.

It was only Warriors' seventh Premiership defeat in the calendar year, in which they managed 12 wins and one draw.

It's not a bad record if you consider that the Premiership is far from a level playing field when it comes to financial resources.

Warriors may have a multi-millionaire backer in Cecil Duckworth but, as they are not a founding member of the Premiership, they do not receive the same central funding as many of their competitors.

The current structure is governed by the Shareholders Agreement, which was signed by Premier Rugby League (PRL) and the founding clubs when the Premiership first came into being. Duckworth believes it is high time the discrepancies were ironed out.

"We are obviously disadvantaged by the Shareholders Agreement and it is disappointing that it is still in place," he said.

"We're talking to PRL about that and hopefully some changes can be agreed in the not-too-distant future.

"We have a large financial disadvantage and we don't feel that is fair or equitable."

Despite that disadvantage, Warriors have performed admirably on the pitch. But perhaps Duckworth's greatest coup this year has been to secure the services of director of rugby John Brain and skipper Pat Sanderson until 2008.

"They are both extremely able," he said. "Pat is a super player and John is one of the best coaches or directors of rugby in the Premiership.

"He's forming a very good partnership with Anthony Eddy. We've got continuity and they work well together."

While Brain's plans may have been disrupted by international call-ups for Sanderson and Chris Horsman, Duckworth believes their involvement with England and Wales respectively only helps to raise the profile of the club.

"It's wonderful to have both Pat and Chris Horsman playing for England and Wales," he said. "We miss them but Tevita (Taumopeau) is coming along well and Johnny (Tuamoheloa) is playing some good rugby. Tom Harding has integrated into the team."

If Worcester maintain their form in the second half of the season, they will be challenging for a top-four finish. And the Sixways supremo is licking his lips at the prospect of Heineken Cup rugby.

"We are in the Challenge Cup, which might be a UEFA Cup. We want to be in the top competition," said Duckworth.

"It's good for our supporters and it's good for our players. It improves the attraction of coming to Worcester if we are in the Heineken Cup."