Salford won everything last season. Widnes won zip.

Totally agree with that one.

A town with RL in its blood, decent facilities and reasonable crowds. Another local derby for us and at least they have travelling fans.

Whatever. So you wouldn't have Catalans in because they haven't got many who make it down the M62 in time for 8pm on a Friday night?

Widnes have had enough chances to prove they are worthy of a place and bar the stadium they are not. Halifax deserve it more than Widnes do.

Geez. How dull and parochial are some RL fans.

But didn't have the solid backroom, nor stadium. But I still feel that the heartland teams like Widnes were going against Salford rather than Celtic.

Of course if we're going on finishing positions then Celtic were the losers in the GF that year and therefore deserved their place.

Im all for expansion, but this type of thing just puts a massive dent in the sports credibility, and in the attempts to grow the game.

Celtic Crusaders look at best shambolic, and at worst a criminal organisation.

It would appear that the illegal visas relate not to this year but to earlier seasons. Therefore Celtic gained promotion through the divisions and ultimately into SL under false pretences.

That must leave a very bitter taste for fans of clubs denied entry to the championship and also SL.

Consider alos that Salford gained their franchise via a mythical stadium plan, whose trading company Red city developments collapsed into liquidation within days of them being granted a franchise.

It therefore makes a mockery of the franchising process and brings it into disrepute.

You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.

Didn't Leighton Samuels say that that some had been brought over with visas for his other company a few weeks back? When there was a big deal about their finances?

But was that the problem which resulted in the deportations? That information hasn't been released has it? Only that there were irregularities with their visas. As yet, investigations into the club have not been completed so we don't know whether that arrangement or indeed any other was the cause of the problem or meant that the club has been complicit in some way. We'll find out soon enough. Personally, I hope the club is cleared. The fans down there could do with a break.

Sky text says that the visas were 'insufficient' so it may be. Added to that, weren't most of these going to be binned by the club after this season?

I get the feeling that the club won't get away scot free from this, but you are correct, we don't know the facts as yet so it is all supposition at the moment.

But it is so far unknown how long they have been over here illegally. If it is (as looks likely) longer than just this year then these illegal players, many of which are some of their best players ( Jace van dyke, mark dalle cort, tony duggan etc) had a huge part to play in securing that finishing position.

Talking to people from South Wales whilst on holiday they said that Celtic dont really stand much chance and arent really getting anywhere down there.

The truth is not always what you want it to be. The simple option would be to lob em out at the end of this season, an action i think should be taken. But who comes in is seemingly a lottery.

Quote ="SaintsFan"You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.'" Im not jumping the gun www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/au ... ians-visas The key bit in the Guardian report is as follows: the club remains the subject of investigation by the[size=150 Border Agency [/sizewhich has already [size=150concluded that deception was used [/sizein bringing the players into the country. Nice news article on what the government does re companies employing illegal imigrants news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7462373.stm

Quote ="SaintsFan"You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.'" Im not jumping the gun www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/au ... ians-visas The key bit in the Guardian report is as follows: the club remains the subject of investigation by the[size=150 Border Agency [/sizewhich has already [size=150concluded that deception was used [/sizein bringing the players into the country. Nice news article on what the government does re companies employing illegal imigrants news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7462373.stm

We've just had an in depth discussion on the subject.

Where is the RFL's statement.
If it was only "There will be a statement shortly"

The silence is deafening.

As much as people criticised Mo Lindsay there would have been some sort of response by now.

Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.

Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.

Quote ="The Chair Maker"Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.'" and I'm not sure if thats such a bad idea ,at least a decision can be made then and then everyone can move on as stated earlier I would LOVE to see Widnes back where they belong in Super League but I think Halifax have a fair shout as well..............

Quote ="The Chair Maker"Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.'" and I'm not sure if thats such a bad idea ,at least a decision can be made then and then everyone can move on as stated earlier I would LOVE to see Widnes back where they belong in Super League but I think Halifax have a fair shout as well..............

True but it would have just been a load of b0ll0cks. I'd rather they take their time and get it right

By the club or by the players?

Since the club is still the subject of investigation, how can they have concluded anything about the club?

I am sure 6 players didnt get together and say "look ya big galar, if we tick this box to say were NOT entering the country to play semi or professional sports, we will get a nice gig in the UK, so lets all tick NO ok ".... I would think the club said "hey, ya big galars, we have a contract here for you, but we just need you to tick that box to say NO you wont be partaking in any semi or porfessional sports when you enter britian , ok fellas".....

Personally id take Barrow. Cumbrian side, place where RL is on the build again, top of the Championship table, think they have a new ground on the way (not to sure about that).. they have given all teams a run for their money this season and their NRC run, and league position shows that they are capable of doing it. IMO they should be on their way into SL.

You mean the same Salford side virtually that got relegated from SL as opposed to the Widnes side that lost nearly all its players and had to scrape a squad together in 2008????

Doesn't take a rocket scientist that one does it?

By the way the SL licence points scoring system did not include NL1 league placings.

I think our points tally will be taken over yours this weekend, as i think we could, and should (if we play like we did against Castleford) easily put 80 past them, dependent on the score you win/lose to Huddersfield.

As a Widni speccie I do genuinely feel for the die hard CC fans, really do. However though, this was always likely to happen at some point. This time last year I was absolutely outraged everytime I heard the words 'Celtic Crusaders'. Now my bitterness is no more, just pity and so on. It is a shame but it does highlight some of the circus-like issues we have to deal with in pro rl. Anyway, despite this off field set back CC will still remain a SL outfit, and will continue to be so until they implode (which i can also see a few years from now sadly). There is so much that stinks regarding the decision last year, but I don't want to get branded as bitter so I will leave it be. As far as I am concerned we need to plug on in the division we are in and try and tick another box for next time. ie win a grand final.

Anyway bring us back and we'll light up KR again with a flare, can't beat a touch of Italiano.

Salary cap does not help and we had a e coach.If could spend more we have a better chance and more aussies.

You cant make players play better and wakefield got a great coach and that why they are playing well.We just dont seem to get the right players and hope next year we do with cullen.With 300 grande cap gives all teams a chance.

But on criteria,fan base,youth,finance,and stadium we do have.So in my eyes robbed.But hey ho rfl can do what they like.Next benidorm rlfc

I wonder why this was not spotted at RFL HQ, does this not reflect as much on them as a Governing body?