ROB Baxter is in the market for a new tighthead after prop John Andress announced he would be leaving Exeter Chiefs to join Worcester.

The Ireland A forward re-joined the Chiefs on a one-season deal last summer after a two-year stint at Harlequins.

Sandy Park head coach Baxter said he offered the 28-year-old a new contract but Andress decided to take up an offer from the Warriors.

He will leave the Chiefs for a second time in the summer but Baxter thinks the former Ulster player has a big role to play until the end of this season.

"As far as we were concerned we wanted John to stay, we offered him a contract, but after looking around the market place he's decided to take up an offer at Worcester," Baxter told Echo Sport.

"There's a lot of time left in the season and we expect him to be focused on making sure we have a good end to the season.

"We are only just past the half-way point of the season, we've still got some business to do in Europe and there's a long way to go in the Premiership.

"Tighthead is a position where you need plenty of bodies, not just for playing but for training, and John can play a full part in the rest of an important season for us.

"He can worry about next season once this season is over and he will go with our best wishes."

Andress has shared tighthead duties with Hoani Tui, Craig Mitchell and Chris Budgen this term and has made 12 appearances, including eight starts.

That is in addition to the 44 matches he appeared in during his first spell at Sandy Park between 2007 and 2009.

But Mitchell is now the only senior tighthead under contract for next season, with Andress leaving this summer and Budgen's deal expiring at the end of the campaign. However, Echo Sport understands Tui is close to agreeing a new deal.

With Lloyd Fairbrother, 20, progressing through the academy, Baxter has options for the No. 3 jersey but wants more strength in depth for next season.

"We'll need to look for another tighthead prop now," he said. "We have got some guys developing in the academy, Lloyd Fairbrother is coming through, and at loosehead we have Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ben Rogers, so we have a bit of strength there.

"Chris Budgen came in and did well last weekend after a little time out of the first team so we've got good players in that position.

"It is a position where you get through quite a few players and the more successful Craig Mitchell is the more he'll be away with Wales so we need plenty of cover for next season.

"We felt strong there this season but we've got to focus on finishing this season well and then make sure we have everything covered in time for next season."