DURING eight years in the Sixways spotlight, departing fly-half Joe Carlisle has always divided the Warriors fans’ opinions — like Marmite, they either love him or hate him.

The talented play-maker was guilty of a string of high-profile errors when he burst onto the first XV stage back in the 2008 season.

While he has undeniably matured into a Premiership-standard outside-half in the intervening years, those rookie errors still remain at the forefront of some supporters’ minds.

“I have always been someone the Warriors fans have either loved or hated, but that is just the way it goes,” admitted Carlisle. “I am lucky that there are some great fans at the club — some love me, some hate me, but that is just the way I play.

“I think some people have always remembered mistakes I made early in my career, but that was more than four years ago now and I have developed my game a lot since then.”

Academy graduate Carlisle, who has racked up 477 points in 90 appearances for the club, will be leaving Worcester at the end of this term, with Premiership high-fliers Wasps believed to be his destination.

There was an offer on the table for the 25-year-old to extend his Sixways stay, but the Swindon-born fly-half felt the time was right to move on.

He explained: “It was a big decision to leave, I have had a great eight years at Worcester and I am grateful for that. However, I am 25 now and it has got to that stage now where I need a fresh start and a new focus.

“It was a hard decision to move away and I was extremely tempted to stay with Worcester for another couple of years.

“I am very excited by the move and there are some exciting players to play alongside in the back-line I hope to stamp my authority on the number 10 jersey. I have signed for a team that is playing well and I hope that I can go there and put a marker down.”

Carlisle added: “I have some very good friends at Worcester — a lot of them I have come right through from the academy with — and it will be sad to leave.

“It will be very strange coming back to Sixways and going into the away dressing room. Worcester is never a good place for visiting teams to come to, but hopefully the fans will welcome me back.

“I have learnt a lot from playing alongside Andy Goode and the way he runs the game. He is one of my best friends at the club.

“I certainly have my eye on the number 10 jersey at my new club but, if the coach wants me to play at 12, I am more than happy to do that. I enjoy playing at inside-centre and would be happy to be there too.”