FRANCIS Baron's exit from England Rugby Ltd may have slipped under the radar for many.

His departure, however, could yet play a significant role in Worcester's fortunes.

Baron, who last year used his casting vote to ensure the continuation of relegation and promotion to the Zurich Premiership, may have damaged the status quo by his exit.

Relegation and promotion was only rubber-stamped when a review on the thorny issue was voted upon.

The panel, including representatives from Premier Rugby, from First Division Rugby and the Rugby Football Union, decided that the one-up, one-down system should continue.

RFU chief executive, Baron, said at the time: "It has, unfortunately, not been possible to reach agreement between PRL and FDR on the promotion and relegation arrangements going forward. As a result I had to use my casting vote."

However, with Baron now gone from the board which runs professional rugby in this country, Worcester may yet be saved from the drop even if they finish bottom of the pile this season.

Baron -- who remains top dog at the RFU -- stood down as chief executive of ERL after it became clear he was becoming increasingly isolated within the thinking of the board. His continual support of promotion from National One was understood to be of particular concern.

The RFU will now have to send another member to sit on the board, made up of representatives from the Premiership clubs and the RFU, but whether he will adopt Baron's position is anybody's guess. His views will undoubtedly be a key issue for the future of the sport.

Because of Cecil Duckworth's history, and his exhaustive battle to ensure promotion for National One clubs, Worcester would never openly welcome a move to axe relegation.

However, with Worcester presently bottom of the pile, a stay of execution -- which has helped Leeds Tykes become an established Premiership outfit -- could yet do the same for the Warriors.

Various rumours have once again been doing the rounds again this season. The favourite one, for the past three years, is that there will be no relegation this season. In it's place will be an expansion of the top tier.

Officially, promotion and relegation is now in place for another four years. However, as we saw with new entry criteria slipped in quietly before Worcester's National One campaign got under way in 2003, the goalposts are liable to move at any point.

At present, looking through the potential winners of National One, only Bristol seem to satisfy that criteria. Pertemps Bees' cabbage patch at Sharmans Cross Road is a laughable Premiership entry, while Rotherham's Clifton Lane has already shown that it's not up to the required standard.

So, we will all hold our breath and await the latest rugby saga to unfold. We've long accepted well enough that there are severe divisions of logic between the top flight and the rest of civilisation.

But how ironic would it be if Worcester were the beneficiaries of a closed shop attitude in the wake of Baron's departure?

After campaigning against it so vigorously, Worcester's future could yet be shaped by the self interest which once threatened their very existence.