That's pretty offensive to tea ladies - I'm sure that any tea lady could manage a sports team better than some of the clowns in charge at Crusaders.

exactly, there is no need for a merger at all. If they just want this to happen, put Widnes in SL - and put Crusaders in NL1.

My initial reaction was that this had to be a wind-up and then I remembered the Gateshull and Shuddersfield fiascos. If true, then it completely destroys the credibility of Messrs Lewis and Woods.

Celtic Widnes Crusader Vikings. Has a certain ring to it.

The "merger" rumour would surely be that were the above to happen (which I'm certain won't) Widnes would be able to pick up the contracts of any of the Crusaders players they wanted. The current Widnes squad would not be competitive in Super League, nor was it designed to be.

True, it'd also be easier to Hand over the franchise place without other clubs staking a claim for it.

It questions the substance of the Celtic application, without going into another licence debate but maybe Lewis and his team have done Celtic no favours by putting them in when they weren't strong enough yet.

This Wrexham talk has now been going on for 2/3 weeks with no outcome yet, how can a club plan their budgets when not knowing where the home ground is? Will season ticket holders ask for their money back? Has development been started in Wrexham to see what the interest is for rugby league? If it's not strong enough in South Wales then I doubt it will be in Wrexham.

I thought it was a bit suspicious when I saw Widnes's draft fixtures - Leeds at Wrexham first game.

Correct, we couldn't go up this time, our cap is £350,000 against a SL one of £1.8M? Probably premature to discuss now but must be a consideration. I'm jumping the gun but we'd be in danger of looking down under for some players then wouldn't we!

So Celtic to play at Widnes and Salford to play at Leigh.

Hmmmm

I've just thought of something - if they merge, surely Widnes would have to pick up the Crusaders' liabilties (apparently c. £1 million). Not very likely!

They could buy the licence from Celtic - Pretty unlikely I know. Would give Widnes (in theory) access to Crusaders fan base. Maybe play a game down there once a year.

Sorry? You can't buy a fan base! Did Hull have "access" to the Gateshead fan base? Or Huddersfield Sheffield?

My how the cocky have fallen. You've changed your tune. Now echoing the things people have been saying for a long time.

I sometimes think it may have been a good idea to give you a shot at super league, shame its not working.

However, those of us with a long history of supporting Rugby League would warn against a "merger". All that will happen is your club will be swallowed up by another and you'll end up with a club the RFL is not interested in that will be struggling even more.

Maybe you will listen to both sides of the argument this time, eh cru?

For what its worth, i don't see Widnes going for this. They will be after your super league place for themselves, as i hope my club will

Please let it be true and then the two goons from cloud cuckoo land will be gone

What would Widnes get out of it?

If Crusaders collapse then they are in anyway. One extra year's wait isn't going to kill them.

When are we actually going to hear what is really happening? The longer they go without making a statement the more rumours there will be flying about.

It cannot happen. Widnes have the means to do this off their own back. We are building towards 2012 and should remain on that course.

there's a fan base?

Noble to end up as full time England Coach?

because of the success he had in the job last time he did it?

Nope, because he has made a bad vocational move and will be looking for another job soon with the way this is going.

Epic fail by the RFL if this happens.

Personally, as much as I want to see the game expand and develop in this country, I think that Crus promotion to SL was at the wrong time. Too much too soon perhaps. I think they'd have been better served with 3 years in NL1 building the club, the team and the brand so they would be a stronger position for SL at the next round of francising.

I doubt very much that this supposed merger with Widnes is anything more than the fevered dreams of a couple of chemics with nothing better to do.

The move to Wrexham, however, may be a bonus for Crus as it brings them closer to the heartland of the game which should see an increase in crowds (something that many on this board seem to think is the only evidence of expansion)

The same way Gateshull was I expect.

I want it to be rubbish as much as the next man down here but I've heard it from more than one source now.