BY MARK DOBSON

CECIL Duckworth is often the butt of jokes among some Worcester City supporters --but how they would love to have him on board.

Worcester Rugby Club's chairman has ploughed millions into Sixways over the past six years to make them into genuine promotion candidates for the Zurich Premiership. Once again, he has backed the management with a budget which makes them favourites for the National One title this season.

Ten new signings have come through the doors including top talent such as Drew Hickey, Daren O'Leary and Tom-my Hayes and prospects couldn't look brighter at Sixways.

Surely nobody in their right mind can say the same at St George's Lane. One new player has been added to the ranks as manager John Barton has tried in vain to bring in fresh blood. He cannot, though, perform miracles.

Barton led City to the top of the Dr Martens Premier League for long periods last season but it became clear, once injuries struck, that the squad lacked depth.

That was the situation at the end of the campaign, but the hopes among City supporters must have been for summer signings to bolster the promotion-chasing club. It hasn't happened yet and, as other clubs strengthen, City's title hopes are being diluted.

Worcester's directors need to make a clear decision in the coming months. Are they serious about this club or are they in it for their own self-gratification? Certainly, the management and supporters deserve better.

They should expect, at the very least, that the club are pro-active in going out and attracting financial muscle. If that means that the present directors have to fall on their swords, then so be it.

Surely they can see it is for the good of the club?

Of course, the new people must have the right motives but they have to be given incentives to jump aboard the City ship. The club needs hard cash now and there are wealthy people out there who could be attracted to a club with the potential of City.

Duckworth has, in the past, helped out Worcestershire CCC in their bid to sign Glenn McGrath and is a great lover of football as well as rugby and cricket. It does not take a brain surgeon to realise who could help City out of their financial hole.

Some pride, though, would need to be swallowed if it ever became a reality.

+If you have views on this or any other sporting topic e-mail wensport@thisisworcester.co.uk