WORCESTER Rugby Club's chief executive Geoff Cooke has admitted they have given themselves a 'mountain to climb' if they are to win promotion this season.

Cooke watched on in horror on Saturday as Coventry came away from the then National One leaders with an incredible 31-22 win at Sixways.

And the former England manager is well aware, the club are now in danger of another season without the promotion they crave so much.

"It is a serious setback to our season," he said. "I think everyone realises that if you are going to win the league and promotion then you cannot lose at home to a bunch of part-timers.

"We have given ourselves a mountain to climb now and what is disappointing is that we are now depending on other teams to do us a favour."

Dropped

Worcester lie four points behind new leaders Rotherham and also dropped to third in the table behind part-timers Exeter after the shock defeat.

Rotherham clocked up a 42-10 success at Bracknell while Exeter defeated Manchester 16-3 at home.

And with the South Yorkshire side in dominant form despite their recent defeat at Sixways, Cooke is realistic about the challenge ahead for his side.

"We are now four points behind Rotherham," he added. "We have put more pressure on ourselves because we now cannot afford any slip-ups.

"Not only did we lose at the weekend but, in trying to win the game late on, we conceded a last-minute try which prevented us from picking up one bonus point from the match.

"We did not even finish within seven points of what is essentially a part-time club."

Meanwhile, Cooke is hoping Nel Porteous can be persuaded to stay at the club after resigning from her position of physio.

Porteous decided to leave Sixways after the club's management made her number two Dave Merlin redundant.

Merlin - a former Worcester player - lost his job after the club decided two full-time physios could not be justified.

"Dave Merlin has been made redundant after a review of his position," added Cooke. "We felt we could not justify two full-time physios. There just wasn't enough work for him.

"Nel has decided to leave but I hope she will change her mind because I certainly did not want her to go.

"She has been the physio for some time now and has done a very good job."