WORCESTER Warriors stalwart Alex Grove looks set to leave after director of rugby Dean Ryan admitted he would feature “less” next season.

The long-serving centre has become an “influential” figure at Worcester since making his first team debut 10 years ago as he has made 152 appearances, scoring 29 tries.

But he has struggled to hold down his place with Ryan at the helm and has made just six showings – two of those in the Aviva Premiership – this season.

With opportunities limited, Grove, 28, had a spell on loan at Greene King IPA Championship side London Scottish earlier this year, which raised questions marks over his future.

The three-cap Scotland international replaced the injured Wynand Olivier in the latter stages of Warriors’ 50-12 drubbing at Exeter Chiefs. But a week later he was dropped as Warriors handed winger Bryce Heem the number 13 shirt to face Wasps. Ryan said the decision was part of the club’s new direction.

“I am not saying he was disappointed (not to feature against Wasps) because he is every time he is not picked,” Ryan said. “But those are decisions which are about what we think are right for now and also what we think we want to see in the future.

“I don’t have any issues with Alex and how he has supported the squad. But he has struggled to get game-time and that’s something for him to come to terms with because, having been in a dominant situation playing a huge amount of rugby here, the direction of the club has changed, which has probably not given him that opportunity.”

Grove will face further competition when Leinster star Ben Te’o arrives in the summer and Ryan said it was now up to the former Worcester academy graduate whether or not he continued his stay at Warriors.

“Alex has got decisions to make about his future,” Ryan said. "We can’t hide from the facts that Alex is not getting as much first team games as he wants and with the arrivals of people like Te’o he is going to get less.

“Alex has been hugely central to everything over the last 10 years, including the last two or three, so just because he isn’t playing, his contribution is huge as he is involved in the senior player group and he is influential in the decisions we make here.

“He is a valuable part of the club, but he hasn’t got the game-time he would like and that forces people to change their direction.”

Ryan added: “At this stage of the season people are pretty clear about where their futures lie. There were some people who are playing against Wasps who won’t be here next year, but that is just life in professional rugby.”