Artificial pitch wasn't to blame for Dean Ryan's decision to quit Worcester Warriors

The outspoken former England number eight labelled the new pitch as a “commercial decision” earlier this year, when Warriors unveiled plans to remove their grass surface.

O’Toole believes the artificial pitch can host concerts and non-rugby activities, and will bring in significant amounts of cash for Warriors.

Supporters on social media have claimed the artificial pitch, currently being installed at the ground and which won’t be finished until August, could have driven Ryan over the edge.

However, Warriors’ high performance director Nick Johnston carried out a lot of research into the new facility and its benefits.

“The rugby department under Nick’s responsibility conducted an extremely thorough due diligence exercise on the pitch,” said O’Toole.

“We would not for one second put a pitch or anything else into this facility that would have any negative impact on our players. The science applied to our due diligence was comprehensive.

“We went on a trip to Italy to see the pitches in action.

“I don’t think the pitch was the final straw for Dean but he has his reasons. I can only deal with facts and he no longer wanted to be here on a full-time basis.”

O’Toole, who worked at London Irish before arriving at Sixways two years ago, insisted there had not been a breakdown in his working relationship with Ryan.

“The development of this issue has been in the post-season window,” said O’Toole. “There’s been no specific clash.

“We had a very productive relationship that got sparky at times, which is quite normal in any sports environment, but it was a productive and adult relationship.

“The board were 100 per cent behind him [Ryan], the owners were 100 per cent behind him and I was 100 per cent behind him.

“There was no doubt that he had our complete and utter support. He was our director of rugby and had done an excellent job against our objectives as a business.”