DEAN Ryan reacted angrily to being questioned about the prospect of relegation following Warriors’ sixth consecutive Aviva Premiership defeat.

After seeing Worcester crash to a 40-6 loss at Exeter Chiefs, Ryan rightly insisted there are still plenty of points to play for. However, the Sixways director of rugby added the caveat that he felt being asked about the threat of relegation by your Worcester News was ‘pretty poor’.

Worcester have managed just two losing bonus points in league rugby so far this term and are seven points adrift at the foot of the table, which is causing a huge amount of concern for the club’s supporters.

Ryan said: “How many sides are on nine points? There are three and Gloucester are only on 10 and they’ve only won two games.

“Relegation isn’t part of the conversation yet and I don’t see why it should be. That doesn’t mean we don’t recognise the hole we’re in or that we are being ignorant to the facts, but there are 16 games left and only a seven-point split.

“It is a little bit difficult to see where the next win is coming from and we’ve got tough opposition, but if anyone feels we’re missing a point and they have the answer, then please let me know.

“To be talking about relegation — especially from a local paper — I think is pretty poor.”

Ryan admitted his side were out-classed by Exeter, who managed the difficult playing conditions much better to run in six tries without reply in a one-sided affair.