Don't know if anyone else saw it but there was a report on Sky Sports News, towards the end of the hour for anyone wanting to see it later, about the Crusaders "unpopular" move to Wrexham. They interviewed a couple of local residents who couldn't name a rugby league player and basically had no idea about the game. They also interviewed a chap in a Widnes hat who basically talked us up saying how he hoped we were given the chance to prove ourselves in the league. Derek Twigg was then interviewed at the Stobart saying how he felt that the move was a face saving operation by the RFL and he reiterated what he wrote in the paper a couple of weeks back. They then showed a table of average atendance from last year with Celtic second bottom to Harlequins and then showed we had a higher attendance than both and also intimated at our superior season ticket holder number.

All in all a report that showed the Vikings in a good light, although Twigg could be seen as being bitter and maybe shouldn't have hit out in the manner he is. I also think they said there would be an interview with Dick Lewis later on so that should be interesting viewing.

Does anyone else think that if Crusaders had been relegated, they probably wouldn't have had to move as they wouldn't be having to pay SL costs?

Well done twiggy and it was great to see rfl looking more and more a joke.Wrexham need some backing as their club in dire straits aswell.They cant support crusaders forever. The rfl if have any sence will allow some clubs in from the championship, who have a decent fan base.We will also double our fans if get in superleague.

I think that's probably true Dors. And that the RFL are despertaly trying to make the club work at the top level. I'm inclined to agree with Twiggy that the RFL are just desperatly trying to save their face and doing anything to try and claim the club as a success. Nothing has really been said about the visa fiasco and they are doing everything they can to put a positive spin on the shambles. They will be dead and buried within two years. The new welsh team will get fastracked to Super dooper League and the whole thing starts again.

The whole thing stinks.

It's an argument I made on the TotalRL forum. Everyone seems to think that this is a case of SL or bust for Crusaders but I actually think there is a lot to be said for doing what Gateshead did and repositioning themselves.
As you said there are far less costs incurred within the Championship competitions.

Of course the Expansionistas wouldn't hear of it...without SL Celtic wouldn't have stood a chance.. so they are already writing off this South Wales experiment I guess.

also some interesting comments here from Leighton Samuels
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/14/crusaders-relocate-wales-rfl-leighton-samuelWe needed more money[/url
Of course this would have meant the SL clubs forgoing some of their money to support this new team. How up for expansion would those people on the VT be if it meant their teams donating £200k to support their 'dream'?

Personally I think they should be lobbying their clubs now to hand over some cash to the new Wrexham experiment if they want to walk the walk instead of talking the talk.

Clip here... www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 68,00.html

Clip here... www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 68,00.html

Quote ="J20"Clip here... www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 68,00.html'" All back to square one with the fan base as well. I wonder how the players/coaches feel knowing they have to either move or change their whole commuting schedule? They'll have probably have had another non-existent or disjointed off season and will probably end up getting spanked every other weekend. A crowd puller as we saw last season If the powers that be REALLY want this to work then they ('saders) need another 3 year license and it should be announced NOW. Plus an admission that it was a mess but here is why we think it'll work.

Quote ="J20"Clip here... www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 68,00.html'" All back to square one with the fan base as well. I wonder how the players/coaches feel knowing they have to either move or change their whole commuting schedule? They'll have probably have had another non-existent or disjointed off season and will probably end up getting spanked every other weekend. A crowd puller as we saw last season If the powers that be REALLY want this to work then they ('saders) need another 3 year license and it should be announced NOW. Plus an admission that it was a mess but here is why we think it'll work.

If Wrexham hadn't come in they wouldn't have been relegated....they would have folded, simple as. Anyone reckon they already have a guarantee for 2012 already. I certainly wouldn't buy something with only two years of SL left and the likelihood of going back to the championship for three years

I keep wondering if it's a PR stunt by Wrexham FC and they're just going to let Crusaders fold or fall by the way side. But it's expensive PR if it is!

I have to say I had to laugh when he asked Dale Winton who is favourite player was.

That fan they asked as well did a decent job fighting our corner.

It doesn't seem good PR to buy a club and run them into a ground, to me.

BRING ON THE WALL!

It gets the name Wrexham FC out there and 'oh by the way we're skint'. As if footy fans will care if the RL club folds. Any way I'll give it week before they start crying about the state of pitch (yes even before rugby ball's been kicked).

It's going to be a massive undertaking though. They're probably hoping for some money in their coffers from the crowds although I'm not sure if they have thought that through. It's just sounding more like a desperate move by all parties every day to me.

No but its not a bad way to get hold of 2 million quid in 'free' money and spend to championship salary cap levels, finish bottom in the next 2 years then fold. Nobles salary was always being paid by the RFL anyway



I am sure Wrexham FC would welcome the hundreds of thousands they could salt away over the next 2 years, while they do the bare minimum. Bet Barrow have a higher wage bill than Crusaders at the moment

Maybe get some new rugby league fans in wrexham.Then they fold and widnes come in.Maybe because widnes closer some may support them if get the chance.

As things have gone in the past, relationships with football teams have not been successful even today the mighty wigan get booted out of their ground for football if there is a clash of fixtures (not to often, but it did happen) football teams blame rugby teams for damaging the playing area ,alex ferguson, if i remember corretly after a grand final there. back in the eighties there was Carlisle,Fulham cardiff and then brigend afc all failing, were the directors of those clubs just using rugby league to part fund football clubs, who knows ? could the same happen to hull that hapend to wigan so is ground sharing a good idea.

hmmm.. let me see South Wales has not turned out in numbers like the south of France for Super League Expansion??? who would have guessed that... however much the "northern" game wants & wishes to expand the core & loyal i.e. fan who will pay to see... is located in the North of this Isle. What if Leigh/Featherstone/Widnes or Halifax has been given the same funding & better Visa advice? Crowds better than 4k per home game would have been acheived, simply by by better away support alone, expand yes but small steps, if Wrexham had been the first step then yes a NL1 team 2 years ago would have been a good step.... but now to save face it is regression with Leigh and Widnes within spitting distance its laughable. Maybe a North Wales Wrexham "crusaders" will work in 2/3 time but it may have slowed or severed rugby league heartland (teams) to a slow beat in the process. We all want the game to expand but don't cut off the roots or the tree won't grow....

I'm all for expansion if its done correctly, Crusaders should have had another 3 years in Championship in order to grow their business, build up a hard core fan base etc. Instead they were just rushed in just because of their geographical location. Moving to wrexham is basically a move that the owners of Wrexham FC see as a way of improving their own chances of survival, they couldn't give a toss about Crusaders or rugby league in general. And what a stupid statement to come out with saying they're expecting 4500 Leeds fans for their opening game who will be making a weekend of it! Leeds don't take that to Wakey od Cas nevermind Wrexham and I'm sure there are plenty of other places Id think of first to spend a weekend before Wrexham Perpignan just for starters! Hope someone like the likes of yourselves, Barrow or Fax are successful next time, let the new clubs build and expand before throwing them in with the big boys, If a club with the stature of say Widnes and Fax can go belly up like you did then what chance has a new club like Crusaders got of succeeding straight from the off - none I'd say as has been proven. Good luck next time, hope we'll be facing you in our new stadium!

I would love that. Kick everyone's favourite second team Castleford out. I'd love to see some of the postings after that from some of our loudest critics.

I can't imagine what the likes of tb would say. After years of gloating and goading towards Widnes as well as supporting anything and everything that the RFL says and does. If he said anything at all about the RFL or the licence process he'd basically be exposing himself as a hypocrite.

The fall out from the next round of licences will be interesting to say the least.

Widnes went into administration in 2007 you know.TB has mentioned it once or twice.