THE arrival of Mike Rud-dock as director of rugby and a host of new signings may have brought the feel-good factor to Sixways but bookies still believe Worcester will struggle to avoid relegation from the Guinness Premiership next season.

Online bookmakers Betfred have made them second favourites behind newly-promoted Leeds Carnegie to finish bottom of the pile in the forthcoming campaign.

Leeds went down in the 2005-2006 season but bounced back at the first attempt. Betfred make them 1/2 to be relegated again, while Warriors are quoted at 10/3 to prop up the table.

The Sixways management will not be contemplating such gloomy prospects with Heineken Cup qualification very much on the agenda for chairman Cecil Duckworth following the appointment of Ruddock in May.

Like most coaches, Ruddock will have to contend with the loss of several players during the World Cup in the autumn. He has long been prepared for the loss of Welsh compatriot Chris Horsman, while a whole host of the club's Tongans and Samoans are likely to feature.

New signings Sam Tuitupou, Greg Rawlinson and Loki Crichton are not expected to arrive at Sixways until late autumn and Ruddock is likely to utilise the club's impressive crop of youngsters including Will Bowley, James Collins and Nick Runciman.

Most of the squad have already returned to the club for pre-season training and more are expected next week.

Back-row forward Drew Hickey has had surgery on his elbow while at home in Australia and needed extra recovery time before being allowed to fly.

Hickey's back-row colleague Kai Horstmann (shoulder) has also gone under the knife during the summer but Ruddock is confident he will be available for the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Ruddock's predecessor John Brain has been appointed as the new forwards coach at Bristol.

Brain, who was shown the door at Sixways two days after guiding the club to Premiership safety in April, replaces Martin Haag at the Memorial Stadium.

"Bristol Rugby is an ambitious club with the right values and a clear vision of where they want to be," said Brain. "I have been impressed by the way the club is structured and the calibre of the people involved, so the decision to join them was an easy one."

Bristol head coach Richard Hill said: "John is one of the leading forwards coaches in England.

"I am looking forward to working with him and defence coach Paul Hull to ensure that we consolidate our position as a leading Guinness Premiership club."