WORCESTER Warriors can kick on and hold serious contact talks with high-profile players, assures director of rugby Gary Gold.

The 49-year-old admitted it had been “very, very difficult” to have conversations with decent players with Warriors in the midst of an Aviva Premiership relegation battle.

Now Warriors have secured their top-tier status, Gold says the club can have more serious conversations with players they want to bring to Sixways.

“That process (speaking to targets) has already started,” said Gold.

“We’ve been having conversations but one of the strategies we wanted to use was to see that the club was in a good position and that has only just happened.

“It has been very, very difficult to have a conversation with a high-profile player or a decent player you are trying to attract to the club if you say to them you are not sure if you’re going to be in the Premiership. It’s not the greatest selling tool.

“Now things can kick on a lot more and we can start having the conversations a lot more seriously and hopefully a lot of it can be put to bed before we come back in pre-season.”

Warriors have just re-signed fly-half Tom Heathcote while teenager Jamie Shillcock, who is recovering from knee surgery, wore the jersey earlier in the campaign.

Ryan Mills, who currently plays at 10, wants to be in the centres next season while Warriors are expected to release experienced fly-half Ryan Lamb at the end of this campaign.

South African international Morné Steyn was believed to be on Warriors’ hit-list but it’s uncertain whether the club could match his salary at French Top 14 outfit Stade Français.

“We are looking for an experienced 10 and there are few candidates we have spoken to,” said Gold.

“I know there are rumours flying around but there are a few candidates out there and we are having conversations with a couple of them. We will wait and see what happens.”

There are also existing players in Worcester’s squad who are out of contract in the summer and uncertain where their futures lie.

Former South African international Wynand Olivier is yet to sign a new deal for next term.

“There are definitely a couple of guys we would like to have conversations with and their agents to see if they are interested in staying at the club,” said Gold.

“I think there’s a wonderful core of young players here who we definitely like to look at, extend or keep on.

“You want to get yourselves to a place where within a year or so you get very few changes coming in and out of the club so the squad is settled and they are comfortable playing with each other.”

He added: “In my selection policy, I have tried to fast-track that selection policy by trying to keep the team together as much as possible and we’ve haven’t had too many injuries.

“By and large we have been able to keep the same group together so they are going to be more comfortable playing together.

“We would like to keep the whole group together and I will definitely look to give more guys more game-time.

“Coming into the club in the position it was in made things a little bit difficult but it will be a completely different kettle of fish starting next season.”