CECIL Duckworth has vowed to step up his financial support after Worcester Warriors' momentous 15-7 victory at promotion rivals Orrell.

The Sixways chairman, speaking exclusively to the Evening News from his Barbados holiday home, admitted he was "caught up" in the emotion of Saturday's success through his mobile phone.

Worcester won the National One title shoot-out to go seven points clear at the top and pave their way to the Premiership.

After so many near misses in recent years, it was an emotional moment for all in-volved and Duckworth was no different. And he promised to back director of rugby John Brain in the transfer market if Worcester secure their passage to the promised land.

"We're not going up to come straight back down again," he said. "I will back John Brain in the transfer market if we do now secure our place in the Premiership.

"We're not there yet, al-though we have taken a giant step forward after Saturday. It was a great relief to hear the result because I was getting updates from my phone and was certainly caught up in the emotion.

"It was a great feeling because everybody knows that we've lost the big ones in the past and I think the credit should go to the players, the coaches and the supporters because it was a wonderful effort from everyone involved. It's my birthday next Friday so I told the players it would be a wonderful early birthday present if they could win!

"It's a fantastic result for the city of Worcester and I think our supporter base is really starting to grow now. They, from what I have heard, were phenomenal at Orrell and I would like to thank them because they made a real difference to the players."

With the Rugby Football Union moving the goalposts once again over promotion criteria for the Premiership, Duckworth has also allayed any fears over non-admittance. The RFU stated that this season's National One winners would have to have a stadium which was capable of housing a minimum of 8,200 including seating for 4,000. With Sixways presently only capable of holding around 5,500 people it was another potential hurdle to clear.

"There is no problem there," said Duckworth. "There are some very reasonable people within the RFU. We've done the initial audit and all the details have been sent off on time. We are planning for a new capacity of around 8,300 which will firstly be met with the use of temporary stands and then we will develop our East Stand.

"We have big plans for that and, although we won't be pressing the button to start the development, after Saturday we can look at moving forward."