We’re united in targeting top-six spot (From Worcester News)

We’re united in targeting top-six spot

10:00am Friday 6th January 2012 in Tom Guest

MARCEL Garvey believes Worcester Warriors’ dream of Heineken Cup qualification is closer than ever now the squad is pulling in the same direction.

Head coach Richard Hill and right-hand man Phil Davies have galvanised the Sixways players and there are signs on the pitch that the club is finally getting close to challenging for a top-six berth in the Aviva Premiership.

The regime of Mike Ruddock – Hill’s predecessor – was dogged by rumours of player-power issues and, on his departure from the club, then-assistant coach Clive Griffiths was scathing about several senior squad members, whom he accused of being a divisive force within the dressing room.

Garvey, who is out of contract in the summer and is believed to be planning a move away from Warriors, has revealed there was foundation to Griffiths’ concerns, but insists that is now in the past and the current squad is all working towards a common goal.

The 28-year-old winger said: “Everyone is working together to move the club in the right direction whereas, under previous reigns, there might have been a bit of conflict where some boys weren’t doing things for the benefit of the players.

“I think we are getting that much closer to achieving a Heineken Cup place. If res-ults go our way and we look after our own destiny out on the field, then we can get there.

“The boys are starting to realise that we can do it and the squad we’ve got this year is pretty special. The likes of Joey Carlisle coming through and showing he is a Premier-ship player is moving the club forward.

“In my position on the wing, the likes of Tommy Arscott, Josh Drauniniu and Andy Short are pushing us hard in training and people want to do better for the club.”

On the subject of his own Warriors future, long-serving Garvey admitted it was still up in the air, but his tone suggested a man looking to move on.

Miles Benjamin has already reportedly agreed to join Leicester.

Garvey added: “It is still a case of sitting down with my family, discussing the opt-ions and deciding what we’re going to do. It’s too early to say whether I’ll be here next season or not at the moment.

“Obviously, I’ve been here for six years now and part of my heart is here and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, but there comes a point in your career where you need to think about things and that is where I am now.

“It would be a big blow for Worcester if a player of Miles’ talent moved on, but he’s also been here for a similar amount of time to me.

“I speak to him all the time and I know he loves Worc-ester, but he has to do what’s right for him.”

Garvey has been a loyal servant to Warriors since joining from hometown club Gloucester in 2006, making 116 appearances for Worces-ter and bagging no less than 44 tries.

If he feels the time has come to move on, then I say fair play to him and wish him well for the future.