MrDave wrote:
I'm not really sure why Crusaders have moved to Wrexham, there is no fan base for them there and if anything it's going to annoy the people who do support Crusaders because their 'local' team is now 100 miles away.
I think the move has nothing to do with fan base but everything to do with the current owner wanting to sell up and the Chester businessman backing this deal is more than likely the only one with a realistic offer on the table. So those are the only considerations the RFL can see.
It's either this or lose the Welsh SL team as far as the RFL are concerned and they do not want to do that even if it made far more sense to admit temporary defeat and let them drop out of Sl, reform as Neath and work their way up the leagues properly.
The fact he wants the club to generate income for the soccer side is interesting because it shows poorly supported soccer sides can't survive and runa ground they own themselves on their own.
Surely it would have made more sence for the team to move towards a major city like Cardiff or Swansea were there are more people more opportunity for sponsors and advertising. Also it's in acceptable travelling distance for the current Crusaders fans.
It's a money issue with the current owner wanting out. I agree it makes far more sense for them to ne fown there but clearly there is no one down there willing to take them on as owner but in Wrexham there is. I personally do not think the move will be a success and in a few seasons they will be gone completely.
I live in Chester so its a short distance away but I know a bit about the local sporting set up round here Rugby-wise and North Wales is considered a development area for RU which means while there are RU sides it's not a big sport in the area. Unless they are very good at marketing it they won't get many English fans from Cheshire venturing over the border to support them - too much English/Welsh rivalry in the area for that. So I am not sure where their support will come from.
Dave
