Andy Goode joined Worcester Warriors after a spell playing in the Super 14

Worcester fly-half Andy Goode says missing promotion to the Premiership this season would be a "disaster".

"I signed a three-year deal and I'm a man of my word. But it'd be a disaster if we don't get promoted this year," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We respect this league but we should be good enough to go straight back up."

Goode's 23 points helped Warriors see off second-placed Bedford on Saturday to make it eight wins out of eight in their Championship campaign.

And the former England man admits: "Our key goal this year is to win the play-offs, get back into the Premiership and be competitive next year.

"The gap between the Premiership and the Championship is not as big as everyone thinks. There are some good teams and good players in this league

"Bedford are a side that on a dry day could compete with some of the teams in the Premiership. Maybe not the Leicester's of this world, but against some of the bottom-half teams. "

We've got a fairly big squad compared to the other teams in this division and that will show over the year Worcester fly-half Andy Goode

The former Leicester, Brive and Sharks number 10 says the big difference between Worcester and their play-off rivals is the strength in depth, funded by owner Cecil Duckworth.

"We've got a fairly big squad compared to the other teams in this division," said Goode. "And that will show over the year.

"There's two or three players in each position and there's not a massive amount of difference between each of them.

"That's the key difference that comes through a bit of funding, so we're privileged to have Cecil Duckworth.

"He has stuck by the club and the contracts, with one premise of slipping down this year, that it doesn't happen again."

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