WORCESTER Warriors are still counting the cost of their 2009/10 relegation from the Premiership after their accounts for the 2010/11 season showed losses of £2.8million.

However, Sixways managing director Charlie Little was keen to emphasise the figures did reflect Worcester’s year in the Championship and revealed he is expecting an improvement of up to £1million in terms of revenue for last season.

Worcester were not alone in recording a loss as only four of the top-flight clubs to have filed their accounts to Companies House for the year ending June 2011 managed an operating profit.

They were Gloucester, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs, while London Wasps and Sale Sharks failed to register their accounts by the March 31 deadline.

Little said: “We are aware of the article that was run over the weekend which made reference to eight of the current 12 Premiership clubs suffering an operating loss.

“Given that it refers to the 2010/11 season, which was our Championship year, it is important to note that our figures are not direct comparisons to the other clubs.

“While we did experience a greater financial loss in 2010/11, we are now expecting our figures for 2011/12 to be £1million up in terms of revenue.

“In terms of operating profit for 2011/12, we therefore expect a significant reduction given that we were back in the Aviva Premiership.

“These figures clearly demonstrate the financial implications of being relegated and the commitment the shareholders have made to WRFC Trading Limited.

“It also emphasises the need to avoid a scenario similar to clubs such as Wasps earlier this year. We have to become sustainable, grow our income and manage our cost base.”

Little added: “When you look at the figures, we all get the same central distribution from Premier Rugby and we create as much money as any other club through our non-rugby activity.

“The difference in income is then RFU monies in support of elite players or what comes through Worcester Warriors, either corporately or publicly.

“It’s important for Warriors to maintain our position in the Aviva Premiership and maximise our income streams as much as possible.

“It is always difficult to make direct comparisons with other clubs and to know what was budgeted and delivered.

“Not all clubs have undergone a major stand redevelopment in recent years, nor improved the parking and road network into the stadium.

“Each club is also at a different stage in its development. The top-five clubs in terms of income are Bath, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leicester and Northampton. All were original members of the professional era, own their grounds and have a generation of supporters attached to the club during the professional era.

“We are closing the gap demonstrated by improvements made in 2011/12 season and we are forecasting further improvements in 2012/13 where we hope to grow income by a further £1million. We are addressing both managing our costs and growing income each year.”