RELEGATED London Irish have got “huge problems retaining talent” and it “will be a huge step” to win promotion back to the Aviva Premiership at the first attempt.

Irish are desperate to keep the bulk of their squad intact after losing their Premiership status for the first time in their history.

But Worcester Warriors chief Dean Ryan (pictured above) knows the enormity of the task facing Irish after the Sixways club suffered relegation to the Championship two years ago.

Warriors were billed as favourites for the drop by most bookies along with Newcastle Falcons.

But Tom Coventry’s Exiles had a dreadful start and failed to recover.

“Relegation is not an easy thing for a club to go through,” said Ryan, whose Warriors side bounced back to the top tier after just one season in the Championship.

“I think there’s a decision-making process where the majority of clubs don’t think it’s going to apply to them and it makes it very difficult for sides.

“In the context of what we’ve done over the recent years, remaining in the Premiership is a reasonably big achievement.

“It has put another club out and it will make another one think.

“Irish have got huge problems now retaining talent and it’s an opportunity for them to identify players. But there’s no doubts that coming back up would be a huge step again for them.

“However much you want to, you won’t have the same team the second time and you won’t be able to attract the same talent so it becomes a very different dynamic to what you’re used to.”

Worcester-born Luke Narraway has pledged his future to the Exiles.

Ryan said: “I wish them well because it’s a tough experience for any club.”