There I was thinking I was reading Leigh's matchday programme and had to look again at the cover just to make sure. Almost more lineage seems to have been given over to the plight of the Crusaders than our own issues here at Leigh. Even a photo of Jarrod Sammut is on the inside page.

Thankfully Alan Edge states the views contained in his article are "not necessarily those of the Leigh Centurions club or its Directors". We all know we shouldn't always believe what we read in the media and this is certainly true here. A factually incorrect piece in many respects and unfortunately some, as they often do, will believe these ramblings.

We have enough issues of our own at Leigh than to glory in the sad state of affairs at Crusaders where Super League HAS NOT FAILED. In this instance the owners - who have absolutey no interest in rugby league and have also failed Wrexham Football club have led the poor staff, players and, yes, the most fantastic enthusiatic supporters of rugby league a merry dance.

I'm just about to set off home now to that 'wasteland of rugby league' and when I have chance I will correct the misguided thoughts of Mr. Edge and probably many more 'flatcappers' who prefer to believe what they read in the press.

For over 40 years I have continued to support and watch Leigh while living in North Wales and have supported Crusaders since the Super League licence was awarded. I am therefore in a position to see all sides of the licensing argument rather than taking a one-eyed stance as some choose to do.

Let's concentrate on our own financial problems at Leigh otherwise there may be no team for any of us to support next season.

Happily the Crusaders (not the aforementioned owners) are receiving much support and gestures of goodwill from other rugby league fans across the country in their detemination to continue in North Wales.

They are also receiving potfulls of money , and have had potfulls in the past , will the RFL be as generous to Leigh and others if the positions were reversed

I hope a new club can be formed and would be quite happy for the RFL to fund them , as long as it was all out in the open , and as soon as they reach a certain level that extra funding would be withdrawn , and they then would have to stand or fail on their own

Bramley, Blackpool, Prescot Panthers, Chorley Borough, Carlisle, etc
Now if they had have been in Wales, would they be extinct ???

What pot full of money are we recieving at present? The rfl are using what's left of the Crusaders sky money to part pay the players wages, we have been asked to buy tickets, merchandise for the last two games with cash, because it appears that our owners have totally pulled the plug financially and we are fighting to stay afloat so we can finish the season, so as not to disadvantage the other teams in the league. We have had bucket collections, half for charity, the other half to pay the stadium and playing staff.
Not wanting to sound bitter but would you class Leigh's stint in super league as a sucess?

To 'crusading leyther'

Thanks for buying the magazine, and for your comments on the 'Flat Cap' feature. In writing for/editing 'The Centurion' it has never been my intention to upset anyone so, as I have obviously hit a raw nerve, I apologise if you are offended by my comments.

However, the article is, and always has been, an attempt at satire, with a swipe at the 'powers that be'. It is written from the viewpoint of a 'flat capper' who resists change, believes that the Game isn't always progressing, and that the Earth is still flat. (go on, that's probably 'factually incorrect' too, but I seem to remember reading that suggestion in a paper somewhere!

) Maybe surprisingly, there are many other fans, some of whom are at Leigh, who do not necessarily subscribe to the view that the Welsh adventure has cast the Sport or the RFL in a good light.

I look forward to seeing which of my points are factually incorrect, but you have to admit that many of them are true. I would like to state that some of the points you quote/highlight have not been written by me. (e.g. where SL in Wales has 'FAILED', or that you were returning to the 'wasteland of rugby league' - your words, not mine) I take your point about not believing everything you read in the press, but would be interested in where you have been able to obtain the information enabling you to 'see all sides of the licensing argument'.

On your point that too much space was being devoted to topics other than Leigh Centurions, the editorial team likes to maintain a balance in the magazine. For instance, we like to say a few words about our opponents, and feature topics of general interest, from respected RL correspondents. I would not dream of dictating to such journalists, what they should write about - especially when they're doing it for nothing! Yes, there was a picture of Jarrod Sammutt, amongst other non-Leigh photos (e.g John Kear, Justin Morgan and Iestyn Harris)

You are also right to say that we need to focus on our own financial problems at Leigh. That is why I, with others, am also actively involved with Trevor Barton's Professional Support Group, in attempting to improve the situation at the Club. As for the stance of 'The Centurion', on the club's problems, we can only print what is available to print on this matter, at the time of going to press. More light may be shed on events at the Fans' Forum on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, thanks again for your views on this week's edition of 'The Centurion. I hope you will still buy one next week!

The RFL are guaranteeing the players wages , and possibly making a contribution to the pension shortfall as well , the SKY money won't cover those wages on their own

Previously the RFL were paying the original Celtic Crusader players to play full time by putting money through Leighton Samuels company which was then paid to the players as RL development officers

In 2005 Leigh played in SL and broke even , we didn't promise to pay money we didn't have , we didn't go into administration

As I said I do hope a new club can be formed and take a place within the Championships , but if any extra is given it must be done out in the open , and if that was to happen it must include a non promotion clause if the integrity of the competition and the club is to be retained IMO of course

Don't include our season in SL in comparing Crusaders we actually got there by Winning the right to do so.

Top two teams promoted, Salford and the Celtic Crusaders. How unfair that was, I bet your glad the rfl arn't bothering with that sort of on field performance rated stuff this year!

Rfl are not paying the missing pension payments. If they had been more diligent, you would have thought that they would have noticed that the money was going missing. They knew about it in 2009, so the buck stops with them. Prehaps they can get Catalans to part with some of their "orange" money. Nobody else is in super league is allowed to sell tv rights to their games. And before you start, S4C wasn't paid for it's welsh language cover of Celtic Crusaders games.

Celtic crusaders 'promoted' whilst playing 6 illegal players (RFL knew). How unfair was that........next

Playing with a slightly 'stacked deck' though weren't they - having 7 or 8 (illegal as it turned out!) Aussies in their ranks? (when the rules applying to the rest of the division limited everyone else to 1).......oh, and when we were in SL, we weren't given 3 seasons grace to establish ourselves - nor months of preparation time to establish a squad!!
And I reckon we still averaged better crowds in our one season in SL than the Welsh managed in either of their 'manifestations'!!

Had they established a fanbase, and played their way up through the ranks using the same set of rules as everyone else - instead of being fast-tracked, then maybe there would be more sympathy for the current Welsh plight.

I did say ' possibly ' in reference to the pension payments , other than that you don't point to any untruths or wrong assumptions in my post , I don't blame the Crusaders for anything , it is without doubt the RFL s fault , but don't start throwing crap at us in defence of the truth

The Crusaders were doomed from the start because they didn't have the support of the town , moving them was just an attempt to get the away support from the other SL clubs to finance them , and as we know that doesn't work either

So putting the past in the past , we need more Championship clubs , there is a support base in the north Wales area , hopefully the RFL won't mess about trying to find another businessman looking to make money and will fund a new club from the start , but do it openly and fairly on the other Championship clubs

When did I say anything about sympathy? Don't blame me for the rfl strange ideas and incompetence, I didn't invent the "franchise" or "points" system.


We had an owner with a personal agenda against the wru and now the asset strippers, all this backed up by some of the worst marketing ideas ever, for example: Friday night kick offs and no cash at the turn stiles!
But all this is isn't our fans or players fault. The Welsh super league experience has come to an end but not for the reasons the anti expansionists would have liked. It all comes down to two property developers who bought the club as leverage to help destroy Wrexham Fc and strip them of their ground. Mission accomplished, lets just destroy the Crusaders, to much trouble to look for another owner when we can off load all the debts from all three companies and walk away smiling with 2 million pounds in their back pockets and 7 million pounds worth of property development squirreled away.
The Crusaders fans and players are going to do our best to enjoy what is left of our season, and hopefully go out with a few more wins and some dignity. If the flat cappers don't like, tough, so be it.

Of course boost, your argument is one sided and so it should be.

Nobody wishes to see any team dissapear into the abyss.

What we all want is a fair and level playing field and at no time during Crus National League exploits where they ever playing on a level and fair playing field.

Now they are/have been found wanting and have answered all the critics in regards to the RFL knowing they where not more viable than Widnes for instance.

It seems rather ironic the team that got shunned for the RFLs experiment in Wales, have consistently proved and rammed the fact that the RFL where wrong well and truly down their throats!

I wonder what size spatular they will be using to.scrape all that egg off their faces.

Unfortunately Crusaders always have and always will be the fall guys in this as far as the RFL is concerned.
I feel sorry for you guys in that respect, and hope you are still around to compete in the championship next year, bit only on a fair and level playing field.

Amazing what passion a 'tongue-in-cheek' programme article can engender. Still, some of the response so far indicate my views are not in isltaion. I'd still appreciate knowing where my article was 'factually incorrect.....in many respects', so that I can avoid upsetting folk in the future.

With the benefit of hindsight, I should have written the article under a 'nom de plume' then I could have shared something in common with the original contributor!

Dont know, we only got one season you have had three!

No reply to me boost ?

Is it our fault you have failed ?

And just exactly how is that my fault!

Sorry for the delay in answering you, I had to go to work!
Were did I say it was your fault? The fault lies firmly on the shouders of the rfl and our very own asset stripping owners. The Widnes fans seem to be a lot less bitter than you, and they have had a three year wait for super league after losing the franchise.



Does this mean that there is more than one flat cappers living in and or supporting Leigh, what a shocking revelation, I need to sit down. Are they all called Alan too

Widnes did NOT lose a franchise that idea was brought in after they and us were relegated.

So the the franchise that was awarded to Celtic Crusaders, shouldn't have gone to Widnes. Who should it have gone to then?

But you are on our board criticising our club

Yes , it was the RFL that agreed to any offer to get themselves out of a hole they had created , and allowing the wrexham owners to believe they could make money out of it just dug a bigger hole

They are a lot less ' bitter ' than us because they are in SL next season , and have known as much for the last two years

You cannot lose what you have never had

Nothing wrong with wearing a flat cap , it has long historical connections to our towns , the hard working men and women of them which are the ones that spawned this sport , in fact these northern towns are very similar to many in the Welsh principality

All we want to see is a fair system for all , and if extra assistance is needed , fine , let it be given , openly and fairly to any that need it

Does this mean that there is more than one flat cappers living in and or supporting Leigh, what a shocking revelation, I need to sit down. Are they all called Alan too





Should the RFL decide to include your club in next year's Championship your clubs' fans would be more than welcome to come and join us at the LSV when our teams meet.

well as it turned out NOT to a Welsh club - but it wasn't awarded to a Welsh club it was 'awarded' to Catalan you really must try harder if you are going to troll around other clubs message boards crying about matters after all Widnes didn't when they were unfairly relegated.

Of course widnes fans are less bitter...now. They have their place at the tainted top table