Warriors chairman Duckworth is aiming for a quick return to the top flight

Cecil Duckworth, chairman of relegated Worcester, has written to the Rugby Football Union to complain about the current Championship play-off system.

Duckworth says the format does not help clubs plan for the future when it comes to signing new players as they do not know what division they will be in.

"The play-off system is ill conceived," said Duckworth. "I understand all 12 Championship clubs rejected the format.

"We will get on with it, but it has got to be changed," added Duckworth.

The Worcester chairman insists that having the play-off final in May prevents teams from signing out-of-contract Premiership players because they do not know what level they will be competing at in the following season.

"The reality is that you cannot be certain of promotion even if you're winning all your games by healthy margins each week," Duckworth told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"We explained all that to the RFU but they did not want to listen, so we are in a position where we cannot sign any players until next May.

"In professional rugby most of the out-of-contract players begin looking long before then."

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