CECIL Duckworth has moved to secure the Sixways futures of John Brain and Andy Keast.

Worcester Warriors' chairman will offer the duo a two-year extension to their current deals which run out next season.

It follows a number of clubs registering their interest in the high-achieving coaches.

And, after Gloucester sacked their director of rugby Nigel Melville yesterday, speculation has already begun that the Kingsholm club could move for the Sixways double act.

Duckworth, however, is determined to keep hold of Worcester's coaches who took the club into the Zurich Premiership and, against all the odds, kept them in the top flight this season.

"I have no difficulty in extending their current deals," said Duckworth. "They are crucial to the club and have done a tremendous job since they came to Worcester.

"What I wanted to do was to get Saturday's European Shield final out of the way before we sat down and finalised things but there is no problem.

"I want them both to stay and I've told them that. I spoke with John Brain around Christmas time about the contract situation.

"It's a bit of a merry-go-round at this time of the season with Gloucester struggling and a number of clubs have changed their coaching staff.

"Obviously, people will have noticed what John and Andy have achieved at Worcester, but I think they are happy at Sixways and want to stay.

"I want them to stay because, under them, we are developing all the time. The club is built on their philosophy. I'm very positive that they will extend their futures with us."

Both Brain and Keast are former Gloucester coaches and, although Dean Ryan has stepped into the Kingsholm hot-seat for now, it is expected that the club will be looking to bring fresh faces in.

Whether the Sixways duo would want to work alongside chairman Tom Walkinshaw is, however, questionable and Duckworth is keen to put an end to any speculation by offering the new deals.

"John and Andy are very talented people and have been the foundation of our success," Duckworth added.