WORCESTER City will attempt to rekindle talks with Warriors owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham in a bid to maximise homecoming options.

City chief Steve Goode and Dave Wood, chair of Worcester City Supporters’ Trust – the umbrella organisation that acts above City’s board – and director of the club, revealed plans to get back in touch with the Sixways bosses after the prospect was scotched last month.

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Goldring confirmed “exploratory” discussions had been held with a view to taking over homeless City as part of a move that would see football played at the region’s home of rugby.

He added the trust had “made it quite clear” that remaining community owned “is their focus and the way they want to go”.

It preceded last week’s meeting where City shareholders and trust members were presented with the option of going to Sixways and relinquishing fan ownership or potentially moving to Claines Lane, retaining the current model and leasing from the Worcestershire FA once the site is redeveloped.

Approximately 150 supporters turned out with both possibilities tabled as if they were live, something Goode and Wood hope will be the case.

Asked whether City regarded the Sixways deal as being dead, Goode replied: “We are going to revisit that and are waiting for a response from Warriors.

“As soon as we receive that response we will get together again and do what we think is right for the club.”

Asked which option the respective boards prefer, Wood said: “I am waiting for that feedback, I have put the call out to trust board members and that is dripping through to me now.

“I would like that process to be complete before making any comment on that.”

Goode added: “We are talking and whatever decision we make will be the right one for this club.”

On the meeting itself, Wood said: “There were some very good thoughts and comments, people had thought about all of the areas.

“Some were passionate about keeping the club’s identity (staying community owned), which I understand, and others were passionately saying ‘why wouldn’t you go to the Warriors, it is a no-brainer?’

“For me it was a split but the most important thing was that a lot of people turned out and we had the key people who are passionate about Worcester City there – we had more than we thought.”

Goode added: “I’d agree with that, there was a lot of passion in the room and the views were mixed which was really good to see.

"People follow their hearts but we have to go with what the head says on this one. Lots of questions were asked and the board got a lot out of it, guidance from supporters who care about the football club.”

Wood continued: “Ultimately the club board has to make a decision. We are responsible for the business and to have the feedback was invaluable for us, to understand people’s feelings.

“Whether it is from the heart or the logic of the finances – that doesn’t come across generally because people usually think about the football – it is still great to be having that conversation and for the people who matter to be thinking about it.

“The only thing we didn’t discuss was the finances involved in both options, I pledged not to go that far because it is about the feasibility of the options at this stage."

Goode said the feedback from the fans was “50-50 in the room” with Wood adding: “There were some straightforward questions about what it would be, the ownership models, that type of thing, what we have to do to get ground grading for different step levels if we go to Claines.

“Personally I didn’t want to do a vote, I wanted the feedback because the club board has to make the decision.

“If one is an option – and I don’t personally know whether it will be an option yet – but it will be a call that has to be made in the best interests of Worcester City Football Club.”

  • THERE will be an in-depth look at the various options with Steve Goode and Dave Wood in Worcester News throughout the week which will go in the paper and online at 5am each morning.