DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons says Worcester Warriors’ owners have been “very supportive” in his efforts to build his squad for the 2019-20 campaign.

Warriors have made eight new signings, retained 15 current first-team players and handed five academy lads senior contracts.

There have also been 12 departures including popular wingers Josh Adams and Bryce Heem and two retirements in Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgetier.

But Solomons said he was “very happy” with the make-up of his 44-man squad for next season and was not looking to make further additions.

“Our recruitment has concluded,” Solomons said.

“I think we have got a nice balance between youth and experience and we have got really good players in the squad.

“I am really chuffed to see the young boys coming through. That’s given me the most pleasure to be honest with you.

“We want to build the place through homegrown players. That’s the vision.

“Obviously you enrich the squad by bringing in people from outside and you get a rich mix which is always good.

“But I would like to see the core of the squad from Worcester.”

In October, Warriors were taken over by a consortium led by Jed McCrory with financial specialist Errol Pope the primary funder.

Morecambe Football Club owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring then joined McCrory in December to form a three-man executive board.

Since the transfer window opened in January, Warriors have recruited lock Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), hooker Matt Moulds (Blues), scrum-half Jono Kitto (Northland), back rower Caleb Montgomery (Ulster), tighthead props Conor Carey (Connacht) and Richard Palframan (London Scottish) and wingers Melani Nanai (Blues) and Ed Fidow (Provence).

“It’s never a simple process,” Solomons said.

“But I am very happy with the way it has gone and the support we have had from the owners in particular. I would like to thank them.

“I am absolutely happy with what we have got.”

Last season Warriors made 11 summer signings while the club was still up for sale.

Asked whether he was working with a tighter budget this term, Solomons said: “I have got absolutely no complaints about anything.

“I think the owners have been very supportive.”

Warriors will lose international experience in Adams and Te’o as well as this season’s top try-scorer Heem and Jack Singleton who has been a regular at hooker.

“They are all quality players and there are good reasons for them leaving,” Solomons said.

“But we do have Melani and Ed coming in and Pezza (Perry Humphreys), Dean (Hammond) and Tommy Howe all stepping up.

“We have also got Will Butler and Ollie stepping up with Ben going.

“Singo is going but Matt Moulds comes in and Niall Annett has played really well.”

Solomons believes Samoan speedster Nanai will be one of his star players next term and reckons Lawrence has “got a bit of X-factor about him”.

“Melani is an exceptional player and I think he has shown what he can do, particularly in this year’s Super Rugby campaign,” Solomons added.

“We have still got some very good players like Francois Hougaard, Francois Venter and a number of other experienced players like Duncan Weir who has played a lot for Scotland and Jono Lance.

“There is a good thread of experience with Nick Schonert, Anton Bresler and Michael Fatialofa.

“There is plenty of quality. We have also got Marco Mama, Sammy Lewis, GJ (van Velze) and Millsy (Ryan Mills).”

Warriors’ unconfirmed squad for the 2019-20 season: Annett, Baldwin, Beck, Black, Bower, Bresler, Butler, Carey, Clegg, Cox, du Preez, Fatialofa, Fidow, Hammond, Heaney, Hill, Hougaard, Howe, Humphreys, A Kitchener, G Kitchener, Kitto, Lance, Lawrence, Lewis, Mama, Miller, Mills, Montgomery, Morris, Moulds, Mudariki, Nanai, Palframan, Pennell, Schonert, Shillcock, Taufete’e, van Breda, van Velze, Venter, Waller, Williams, Weir.

Departures: Adams, Arr, Barry, Fa’osilivia, Heem, Kerrod, Kirwan, Milasinovich, Phillips, Singleton, Te’o, Xiourouppa.

Retirements: Potgieter, Olivier.