CECIL Duckworth will carry on spending to make Worcester one of England's premier clubs.

The Sixways chairman, whose millions have catapulted the Warriors into the Premiership, is determined to keep splashing the cash after Worcester secure their top-flight existence.

Worcester have already notched up seven Premiership wins in their maiden season, while victory at Bath next Saturday could well cement their future in English rugby's elite.

And, after more than a decade at the helm, Duckworth is not going to walk away from Sixways in the near future.

"We've got quite a long way to go on and off the field," he said.

"The season's not over yet, so it would be foolish to look too far ahead but I want to spearhead Worcester's future.

"The financial commitment is there and we remain very ambitious. We always said that we wanted to come into the Premiership, compete and then move forward.

"I think that next season, supporters will see us move up a notch or two from what they've seen this year. There are certainly exciting times ahead.

"I like to think I'm fit and healthy so I will continue to be involved. There's no question of me walking away."

Some empty-handed supporters have had to do just that in recent weeks with such a massive increase in ticket demand.

All Worcester's Premiership home games have been sold out, bar two early encounters against Harlequins and Bath, so the club is already in talks about extending the Sixways capacity.

"The support has been exceptional," said Duckworth. "I must admit that when we came into the Premiership, and we had to put the capacity up to 8,500 to satisfy criteria, I thought it was a little excessive. I didn't know if we were going to fill the ground apart from the obvious crowd pullers against Gloucester and Leicester.

"However, demand has been great and we are now having to turn people away which is disappointing. Therefore, we are planning to put in a new North Stand in the summer which will hold 2,000. That will increase the capacity to 9,500 and then the plan is to add another 2,000 to that north side the season after.

"There is a great appetite for rugby in the city and we have to be able to satisfy that hunger."

Their turnstile fortunes will always, however, be reliant on their on-the-field performances. And Duckworth is in no doubt where the foundations of the club and the team are laid.

"John Brain and Andy Keast are pivotal to the club," said the multi-millionaire chairman.

"We've got the right men and it's very difficult to get that right. Many clubs struggle to do that.

"John and Andy work very well together and they have done a great job for us since they came together. We've got a very good group of players who are well organised and there is a great team spirit at the club.

"That's no accident. It's down to good management and I think they are doing a very professional job.

"I've no doubt that, when the season finishes, we will look to extend their contracts. This season, for me, has been very encouraging because we've done better than most people, outside of the club, thought we would."

Duckworth is hoping that Worcester stay well clear of the promotion and relegation debate which continues to dominate headlines. Reports recently suggested that Premier Rugby were ready to offer National One clubs financial sweeteners in order to stay down this season. It's a suggestion that Duckworth doesn't feel is realistic.

"I can't believe they could afford it," he said. "Where is all the money going to come from because we are talking £7million.

"I just don't think it's a realistic story. From our point of view, we don't want to get involved in the debate until we are out of the equation.

"It's an important time for us and we want to make sure of our future in the Premiership. Maybe one win, maybe two wins will be enough. We don't know at present because of the results around us.

"Speaking from a personal point of view, however, then yes I believe in promotion and relegation. I always have."