Wray fury at £12m Sarries shambles

Nigel Wray yesterday spoke of his anger at Saracens' relegation predicament after pouring £12million into the club since buying it six years ago.

As the price of pursuing his dream soars to new heights, so his team find themselves perilously close to hitting rock bottom. Far from conquering Europe, Sarries must beat Bristol, who defeated champions Leicester at the weekend, in Sunday's concluding home match to be sure of staying in the Premiership.

'I feel much more than annoyance,' said Wray. 'I'm bloody angry but that doesn't mean I'm going to chuck it in. I'm very dismayed at the lack of progress and that we've gone backwards over the last couple of years.

'It's equally dismaying for thousands of our supporters because it's their club, not mine. Win or lose on Sunday, I'd guess there will be some very substantial changes for next season.'

Despite financing a whole raft of big-name signings since taking over at the advent of professionalism, Saracens are further away than ever from adding to their one trophy in six seasons. Wray's policy of giving Francois Pienaar carte blanche for playing affairs came to grief two months ago when they parted company. The owner refuses to blame Pienaar any more than he blames himself.

Wray said: 'One has to be honest and say his record wasn't what he'd have wanted, but neither was mine. It does not do any good to say it was his fault because it wasn't any one individual's fault. We ran it collectively.'