Bath coach Michael Foley fears the worst for Zurich Premiership side if they do no show a dramatic improvement in their final Premiership game next weekend.

Bath, just four points above bottom club Leeds in 11th place and having played a game more than the Tykes, were blitzed 68-12 by West Country rivals Gloucester at Kingsholm today.

It was Bath's record league defeat, eclipsing their 48-9 loss against Premiership champions Leicester earlier this season.

And it now means that should Bath lose against Wasps and Leeds win at least one of their remaining two fixtures against Sale and Gloucester, then the six-time English champions and 1998 Heineken Cup winners could be relegated.

English rugby chiefs have yet to sanction Rotherham's promotion as champions of National League One but, either way, Bath have an anxious week ahead.

Australian Foley saw his injury-hit team concede nine tries, including three for Gloucester's exciting English wing prospect James Simpson-Daniel.

"If we play like we have in the past two weeks, then we've got no chance of beating Wasps," Foley said.

"The young guys got distracted by seeing the scoreboard ticking over at such a rate but the young players who came in today did well and have given us a base for next season.

"Ideally, we need the close-season now in order to change some personnel and get some new players in.

"I've now got to go and reassure some of the young guys that their performances were good, and also tell some of the experienced players that theirs wasn't good enough.

"It is obvious that not enough attention has been paid in the past to skill levels at Bath, and if that is seen as criticism of my predecessors, then so be it."

While Bath lurch on, Gloucester seem assured of Heineken Cup qualification next season.

But the gloss was taken off today's triumph by an injury to young lock Mark Cornwell.

Cornwell, named earlier this week in the England squad to face the Barbarians on May 26, was forced off nursing a broken arm.

He will be out for six weeks, missing not only the Barbarians clash but probably England's Argentina tour next month as well.

Gloucester boss Nigel Melville was delighted his players bounced back so impressively following last weekend's 28-27 Parker Pen European Shield semi-final defeat against Sale.

"We have suffered from poor discipline in recent weeks, but we kept our discipline today and the game rounded off a great week of preparation," Melville said.

He also paid tribute to Simpson-Daniel, adding: "He is a very talented player.

"He came to this club as a fly half because of his kicking game, but he doesn't like kicking, and I don't blame him when he has the ability to run and score tries like he did today."