Crusaders' future in more doubt after winding-up order is delayed

[gpartin]

Has to be Widnes. Unfairly treated previously and the best set up.

I would agree with that to a point. Remember that before Wigan took the baton in 1985, Widnes had dominated the game for a decade. Yet their Ditton Road ground wasn't much better than St Pats! A lot of people lined their own pockets out of the Chemics. They have only themselves to blame!

During their heyday, we were relegated and bounced back. They should never have let themselves get into this situation in the first place!

Widnes weren't given the opportunity to bounce back, who knows where they'd be now if they had but a least it's allowed them to get what seem to be good systems in place. Are Widnes not owned by different people now anyway? If so it's hardly fair blaming them for what went on previously.

[GeoffN]

They have done very little to develop Welsh players anyway. Crusaders have loaned out most of the Welsh lads to the Scorpions, who, funnily enough, play in S. wales, where Crusaders should be.

Yeah, but that will change now that Nobby has gone.

[josie andrews]

Crusaders can try again ...

CRUSADERS look certain to start the next Super League season on MINUS SIX points after falling into administration.
Owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts made the move to prevent the Welsh side being wound up by creditors - including the Inland Revenue and former chairman Leighton Samuel.

The club insist the bulk of their debt, which is thought to be at least £750,000, was inherited following the switch from Bridgend to Wrexham a year ago.

But they hope to re-emerge from administration by the end of the month with a new name - Welsh Crusaders.

That will mean a deduction of six points for breaching the Rugby Football League's insolvency regulations.

But, more importantly, the Welsh outfit's license application for three years from 2012 is not affected because of a change in rules made just last month.

Previously, clubs in administration in 2008, 2009 or this year were barred from applying.

But concerns over new image-rights payments that may be introduced by the tax man saw that clause removed.

Crusaders have also faced legal action from the Rugby League Players' Association over claims of missing pension payments.

A Crusaders statement said: "Over the last year, the club has undergone financial difficulties including significant inherited debt which has made the business untenable."

Moss and Roberts, who also own Wrexham FC, should remain in charge.

They have already registered a new company called W Crusaders.

A winding-up order from the Inland Revenue has also been dropped, leaving the only legal threat action from the RLPA.

Star player Weller Hauraki is being lined up as the sacrificial lamb by moving to Leeds or Huddersfield to fund the bill.

While administrators O'Hara and Co have had interest from two parties.


Crusaders made the play-offs last season under Brian Noble and improved average attendances by 1,000 when they moved to the Racecourse Ground.

Noble has since stepped down with Wales head coach Iestyn Harris taking over the reins.

Despite all the problems off the pitch, the club have signed former Great Britain stars Paul Johnson and Stuart Reardon.

Vince Mellars, Peter Lupton and Frank Winterstein are extending their contracts while Harris also wants disgraced Joel Monaghan.

The Aussie quit Canberra Raiders this week after being pictured simulating a sex act on a team-mate's dog in a drunken prank.



http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z15AT35ty8

[DaveO]

But, more importantly, the Welsh outfit's license application for three years from 2012 is not affected because of a change in rules made just last month.

Previously, clubs in administration in 2008, 2009 or this year were barred from applying.

But concerns over new image-rights payments that may be introduced by the tax man saw that clause removed.

That is interesting in two counts. First of all the RFL can keep the Crusaders in SL if they want but secondly this suggests that clubs generally are going to get stung for a tax bill over image rights to the degree they may also end up in administration.

Dave