WORCESTER Raiders have been “hindered” by a lack of access to dressing rooms and showers as well as training on a pitch described as “a trap for injuries” since moving to Sixways.

Those are the assertions made by Raiders defender Jordan Stoddart as part of the unravelling tale of woe from behind the scenes at the Hellenic League outfit.

Stoddart said sacked co-manager Chris Cornes “always tried to do his best for the lads” when it came to addressing behind-the-scenes problems that have blighted the squad since moving from Claines Lane to the home of Worcester Warriors in July 2020.

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He said the players had received no explanation over kit that had not turned up and that many issues had been at odds with the impression that Raiders would be going places at the new headquarters.

“We have not had a changing room since we started at Sixways, we have had to get changed in bars and even outdoors before games,” said Stoddart,

“Only recently have we been able to have a shower and we get changed in the same room where we are supposed to eat afterwards. It is all a bit of a shambles.

“We were told it was down to Covid last season, that the (Warriors) first team was the priority which was understandable at the time.

“At the start of this season it was made mandatory for us to have a lateral flow test before being allowed in the stadium but we are still not allowed in the changing room due to Covid. That is a contradiction.

“We have had no contact about the new training kits that were supposed to be coming out. We have players turning up to games and training in their own clothes, we are supposed to be this ambitious outfit that is putting Worcester’s name forward but nothing has come of it.

“Chris has always tried to do his best for the lads, he has always pushed for us and we have been hindered a few times.

“We have very little lighting at training and can only train from 6 until 7pm because of that. The pitch is a rugby pitch over on the far side, it is like a trap for injuries with people rolling their ankles all the time. For the players it feels like everything will be alright if we are out of the way.

“I put a text together from the players airing concerns about the changing rooms and kits. We have had people questioning a lot about the club.”

Raiders chairman Steve Harris was unavailable for comment. A Worcester Warriors representative said owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham would not be made available for interview.