RYAN Mills has been granted to permission to seek a move away from Warriors – and there will be no replacement if he goes.

The 27-year-old centre, recently the subject of newspaper speculation over a mid-contract move to Bath or Wasps, seems set to leave after five seasons at Sixways in which he has racked up more than 100 appearances.

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Mills had played all 80 minutes in the first three Premiership games of the season before being placed on the bench for a home clash with Sale at the end of November.

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In December, director of rugby Alan Solomons revealed Mills had been temporarily stripped of captaincy duties to help him "focus on his own game" but he still played the full match in a home success over London Irish shortly after Christmas.

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His last league outing was the opening half of a heavy defeat at Saracens on January 4 and earlier this month rugby website ruck.co.uk reported Mills wanted out of his Worcester deal, which is due to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Solomons confirmed talks had ended with a "mutual agreement" that Mills could explore his wish for "a different experience and challenge" before revealing he is content with his options at centre if the former Exeter and Gloucester player chooses to leave.

Asked by Worcester News how likely it is Mills will be a Warriors player at the start of next season: "Millsy and I have had good discussions.

"He is an outstanding bloke who has made an immense contribution to the Warriors over the years, he has been a terrific player over a lot of difficult periods.

"Millsy is reaching a point in his career where he wants a different experience and challenge.

"At the same time the club reaching a point in its development – Ollie Lawrence is coming through, we have young Will Butler who is a good young player, we still have Alex Hearle to come back with two international centres in Ashley Beck and Francois Venter, and Scott van Breda can play there.

"We have three really good centres pushing through. Millsy has to see what is out there and we have mutually agreed that it is fine for him to have a look and we will wait to see what that brings.

"I understand his situation and look at our situation, that's why there is mutual agreement because we are developing and Millsy is aware of that as well.

"The club is very important to him, he will be sorely missed if he moves on. He is a fabulous bloke and a fabulous player for the Warriors but that's professional rugby.

"We do have these young lads coming through, it is not as though we are shorn of experience in terms of Francois and Ashley, who has had a particularly good season."

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Asked whether there would be any direct replacement if Mills leaves, Solomons replied: "No, there wouldn't.

"I do not want to block our young players. They have to compete but I don't want to put unnecessary obstacles in their way.

"We are particularly blessed in the midfield at the moment."

Mills has established himself as a firm favourite at Sixways but Solomons hopes supporters will share his view of the bigger picture.

"It is perfectly understandable that Millsy is a fans' favourite, he has done an enormous amount for this club," he added.

"If he does move on, I think fans have to appreciate that he is at a point in his career where he wants a different experience and we are at a point in our development where we have some really good, young Worcester boys coming through. We are talking about homegrown players.

"We are also sitting here with two experienced players that have played a touch over 10 tests for Wales and South Africa and that's not accounting for Scott van Breda.

"It is a professional game and if Millsy goes, he does so with our absolute best wishes. He would always be welcome here at Sixways."