IT’S been a difficult season for everyone connected with Worcester Warriors as we have failed to deliver the results we wanted.

The league table does not lie and a year that promised so much has, ultimately, ended with us occupying a position in the Aviva Premiership that none of us are happy with.

We’ve enjoyed some highs and notable wins on home soil, but we’ve been unable to close out too many games and, away from Sixways, have not performed.

This summer the coaching team and players will leave no stone unturned to ensure it does not happen again. For too long the Warriors have been dubbed a sleeping giant in English rugby. We must find answers, awake and deliver on our huge promise.

The fixture against London Welsh on Saturday, in many ways, summed up our season. We can score tries against any team and Josh Drauniniu showed why he is so dangerous with a class quick-fire double.

Many of our younger players also put their hands up with Richard de Carpentier enjoying a fine full league debut and showing why he is a real talent for the future.

But a poor start in the opening 10 minutes always gave us too much to do. We were playing catch up and that result ensured our unwanted away record in the league remained.

Clearly it has been a busy time off the field with much going on, but this is no excuse for defeat on the final day. Our preparations were good, our attitude spot-on and all the players had gone into the game in a professional manner — but we came up short.

Many players will leave the club this summer and it certainly wasn’t the way that the likes of Andy Goode and Matt Mullan would have wanted to end their Worcester careers.

Inaccuracy has been a problem and, in a league where small margins can be so costly, we have paid the price. However, I’d also praise London Welsh who played with a real free spirit. The Exiles have been a real credit to the Premiership this season, after being written off by many. We wish them well next season as they bid to return to the top-flight.

Planning and preparations for next season start today with Dean Ryan officially unveiled as the new director of rugby at Warriors.

He will have the full support of all the players and we’re looking forward to hearing his philosophy for the club and the way forward. Next season we will be a different team, it will be a new year and we’ve got some exciting talent coming in.

As club captain, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players for their efforts this season and, to those leaving, wish them all the best.

Finally, my biggest debt of gratitude goes to our unwavering and dedicated fans that have stood by us all season and made Warriors such a special club to play for.

You, more than anyone, deserve success and I can promise that we will be working harder than ever to bring that when we kick-off once again in September.