Crusaders have officially gone into administration

[TRF_Cymro]

It was a club for Wales ... to be based in Bridgend was the call ... however it was a club for 'Wales' and thats where they are at.

It smacks me of a bit of tradition in League, something im quietly reading up on, the professionalisation of sport and the fact that some do not like the change, wish the keep the sport up North despite there being a club in London and France, its the traditional areas of Rugby League that are against the Crusaders, its not a lie its the truth. Day one its been there. People instead of backing the club they are quick to pounce on them. There are others clubs out there who have worn the Crusaders t-shirt ... Widnes comes to mind. If the RFL was so unhappy they would not have allowed the Crusaders in. People should move on and accept them and understand that its not their fault that one man ruined the club on the way out.

 

[Saints1]

Widnes have paid for their club being run poorly - they've spent three years in the lower divisions despite getting better crowds than a couple of Super League teams. They were made to pay for an individual not running the club properly, and if the Crusaders aren't punished in the same way, why not? I'll tell you why, it's because the RFL are absolutely terrified of falling back on their big promises and expansionism. The game of rugby league is simply NOT ready to move from heartlands yet. With the exception of the Catalan Dragons (bearing in mind we nearly killed rugby league in France forever in 1996/1997 with the PSG disaster) every attempt at expanding the sport has been a disaster.

Harlequins are no longer a success story and are in fact a millstone around the RFL's necks as they drag attendances right down. Crusaders, play offs last year or not, have been a disaster with the RFL heavily, heavily involved with the day to day running of the club for two years and probably for next season as well.

The Crusaders should be demoted yesterday. Nobody with a brain is against the sport trying to expand, but the whole code is NOT ready to attack other areas and I think giving the Welsh team another year is insanity. They were never, ever ready to be franchised but the RFL didn't listen to those saying "this won't work" because they want to expand the sport. Initially I was for it because South Wales has a lot of history with rugby league. I don't care what you say Rob, the Celtic Crusaders were admitted to the Super League because they were going to be the base of rugby league in South Wales. They were going to attract a pool of local talent from South Wales. They have not remotely fulfilled their remit at all.

Widnes are now a well run club and whilst they will struggle on the field are well positioned off it. Both Barrow and Featherstone Rovers will have a massive shock to the system but are a better shot than the currently nameless Welsh team (and Harlequins). This has got nothing to do with ringfencing the sport into traditional areas, it's to ensure that Super League can have a team with a 100% guarantee that it can fulfil all its fixtures. That team is not the Welsh team.

They should have been demoted to the Co-Op Championship, found a new name and a permanent base and built again. Not even in three years time apply, 6 years, 2017 would be the best time to see them come back in. But as I say, being the spineless cowards that they are, the RFL will back their project to the hilt, even though it's abundantly clear it's struggling massively. I would love to see a team in Wales succeed and with a bit of patience it might well have done. But the RFL don't know the meaning of that word.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/9239840.stm

Sale by the end of the week, renamed the Welsh Crusaders and will hopefully be approved by the RFL

 

[Saints1]

Seeing as the RFL are one of the main creditors mate, I don't think that'll be an issue. Sound choice of name, I'm happy with that.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Crusaders'll start on -4

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/9277648.stm

 

[TRF_Cymro]

4 is a tad light ....

 

[Saints1]

Nightmare for the Crusaders as that probably already puts paid to their playoff hopes.