Traffic is right, the fans have been treated appallingly, but I've got the bug, I can't just let go. More fool me I guess.

Saints Fan - Neath is a traditional Union area. They do have a Welsh conference side in the area; the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers, and although they're not as successful as the teams from Blackwood, Bridgend etc. they do get regular numbers playing/watching as far as I've been told.

Samuel didn't pull the plug on the Bridgend CC1 team. That was being put together by Brewery Field Limited, who pulled out because the RFL wanted Mike Turner to have a strong influence on the club. There are a lot of people unhappy at this, but as far as I know, Turner has no official capacity at the new club. Phil Davies is the man heading up the bid, so I'm not sure if it's just his money or if it is a consortium.

Lots of rumours that a couple of the Crusaders boys are willing to take a pay cut to play for the new side because they feel they've been shafted by the club moving North.

Rumours, there would be. Question is, if those players stayed could they make the Championship in one year, to free up a salary cap they could live off? I could see someone stay in S Wales for a year on little/no money, but they would need better money the following year.

Good post Trsffic. I hope you can turn Grendel around too.

Looking more long term - although I agree the Bridgend situation has been handled badly - the outcome isnt too bad.

a) Crusaders are still alive in a cracking stadium though I accept the 3 hours drive is a huge downside. The new Chairman has already sold his business for mega bucks whereas LS was struggling to keep afloat.

b) A new club - not a million miles away from Bridgend - will be created without the huge debt burden faced by the existing club AND playing at a more viable level in CC1. Hopefully we will see a 75%+ Welsh outfit this time around.

I really feel there are many positives to come out of this mess.

I agree, and I'm starting to see them, but the past two weeks or so it's been difficult to find any.

The trouble is that he doesn't seem prepared to invest in Crusaders and is expecting (probably unrealistically) that hordes of fans from M62-land will deliver lots of cash into the coffers of his struggling soccer team.

When he works out that this isn't going to happen then the Crusaders will be looking for a new home.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/14/crusaders-relocate-wales-rfl-leighton-samuelRugby league needs 'pot of money' to succeed in Wales, says Leighton Samuel[/url

How de we know - at this stage - how much he will invest? He has been successful so I wouldnt expect him to run away fromthis just yet.

aye, I remember the enlightened one Leighton Samuels championing the thrust for SL. Nobody expected him to 'do one' either!!

From the moment he cashed in the lease at Brewery Field for half a mill, it was only a matter of time.

I think his own statements are a good guide to what he is prepared to do.

eh???

Were Leighton Samuels statements a good guide to what he was prepared to do??

[url=http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/south-wales-to-hold-open.htmlSouth Wales to hold open trial[/url

The newly created South Wales club are taking the unusual step of holding an open trial for players as they begin recruiting for their first season in Co-operative Championship One.

People often deny that they are going to do something bad (a la Samuel) and then go ahead and do it but they rarely state openly that they have little commitment to something and then fight to the death to defend it.

If Moss is so deeply interested in rugby league that he is prepared to spend serious money making a go of the club, it is odd that he says the opposite in public.

Has he said the opposite?

Every statement from Wrexham FC I've seen talks about the benefits to the soccer club of the tie-up, I've yet to see one that talks about pumping cash into the club.

They've all been about what Crusaders can do for them.

Well considering he's allegedly bought up a million pounds worth of debt with the club, if he's going to make a go of it to support the football club or his dear departed great aunt he's still committed to making a go of it.

Quote ="Traffic"Well considering he's allegedly bought up a million pounds worth of debt with the club, if he's going to make a go of it to support the football club or his dear departed great aunt he's still committed to making a go of it.'" www.totalrl.com/index.php?s=&sho ... &p=1921546 It could be an interesting season.

Quote ="Traffic"Well considering he's allegedly bought up a million pounds worth of debt with the club, if he's going to make a go of it to support the football club or his dear departed great aunt he's still committed to making a go of it.'" www.totalrl.com/index.php?s=&sho ... &p=1921546 It could be an interesting season.

I will once again stand to be corrected if time proves me wrong.
But this new gadgie, this Moss sort! I think I had more faith in Leighton Samuels.
I really do fear for the game, I really do.

I wish the few shoots of enthusiasm in S Wales could have been built upon. A genuine steady club showing sustainable growth. Not a boom (want it now) or bust club. A club S Welshmen and women could call theirs playing in a reasonably even handed competition. What's left sits much less well than the previous club did!
Messy. Very very messy.
There is no wonder some folk do not take the game seriously and the game is held to riducule by some aspects of the media. Even some of the pro-league journo's are shaking their heads in disbelief.

You're right about that Fev.

For all the desperate need some have to hail the new "saviour" of the Gog Crusaders, the Wrexham FC boys don't trust or like him (and theirs is the club he bought -what used to be - our team to save). Dodgy and selfish dealings that make Samuel look like an angel.

Doesn't look too promising eh? I only hope the club lasts the FULL season, if only to not leave such loyal players and fan favourites as Jordan James, Anthony Blackwood, Luke Dyer and such warmly received newer stars as Ryan O'Hara and Lincoln Withers without a job. Let them have the season, then move to a proper club that has more than half a dozen supporters.

After that, I think I share the majority of RL's wish that the Wrexham Crusaders would just DISAPPEAR.

ey up Grendel.
You and I have both disagreed, sometimes vehemently, over the inclusion into SL of the crusaders - we both disagree on that and you know my point of view. But once that route was chosen, it is absolute lunacy to change that after just one season. It was absolutely vital that Bridgend, or somewhere suitable that was close enough, was pushed along with the club and RL developed building on the initial enthusiasm of the small bunch of fans in that area. What's happening now makes no developmental or business sense to me.
An opportunity is lost. Perhaps the game will retract back to the M62 and I'm not sure that is a good thing, tho many will argue it is! South Wales, given a proper structure, an opportunity to compete equally with other teams (as is possible), will develop a RL club which in time would be capable of competing with the rest of us.
The Wrexham venture is virtually wiping that out!

This is where we all seem to agree , you dont have to agree on something , but once it has happened it is then supported to a success

My thoughts exactly Starbug!

You've done nothing but moan on here for the last 12 months! Are you ever on your own board??
Don't start claiming you would have backed a S Wales project in any capacity,

Yes, all the time. totalrl.com



Why? Because I would. Those crusaders fans I have exchanged views and PMs with over the months know very differently. Not that I have to explain myself to you in any way!!!

Dico, I will back Fev up there. Though he freely acknowledges his reservations about the whole Crusaders SL venture, he has never to my knowledge ever misrepresented the situation. I have often as he says, vehemently disagreed. It has to be said that in most cases time and subsequent events have shown him to be right more often than Nostradamus.

Back when I was still a supporter of the club that ultimately betrayed me, I took the time to look at the discussions me and Fev had. He generally specified what was personal opinion and what was fact. And I'll tell you, it probably would have stood up to scrutiny in court.

I may not always have agreed with the bloke, but respect his opinion.