Cru have issued a(nother) statement on Facebook, and it doesn't look good.
Perhaps one of the more tech-savvy of you out there can transfer it on to here please, but...........
Under the title of "The Future Of Crusaders" the opening sentence reads..............
"Due to a change in circumstances, the owners of North Wales Crusaders, have concluded that they will no longer fund the additional costs to run the club with immediate effect."
What happens next is anyone's guess, but it's more bad news for the game we love.
Spelly.
They've never averaged 1,000 fans a season.
Even rounding up to that, and saying that it's £20 for every ticket that is £20k per game every other week. That's not going to cover wages, stadium, staff etc. and assume the owners are paying a fortune for next to 0 coverage, seemingly no hope of improving & not much success.
Unless there is a successful business person from *Insert rugby town here* then teams will muddle along. Unfortunately there isn't much interest in the sport, or money. Think there will be a few more going to the wall soon enough which is sad to say/see.
It's hard to visualise a positive future for the Championship in general. Fast forward a few years and there might well only be Super League and amateur rugby. To be honest, I think this is the plan for a few SL powerbrokers, they don't need or want the Championship (or at least, that's what they think).
Cru players refused to train last night according to a report I've just read. Words like in "serious doubt" about Sunday's game with Keighley, and "undetermined" describing the club's future were in the text.
It doesn't sound good for a team containing a number of ex-Lions. ☹
Spelly.
That’s exactly right, unfortunately for the powers that be Leigh broke ranks and threw their plot under the bus, wakey too
we were never in the mix - like Blackpool borough
the vision is a European super league, so one hull club will have to go along with Leigh, cas and york
meanwhile we play in a league below with no promotion
Apparently Cru's game at Keighley today is on, but it's unclear as to which players wiil / won't be involved in the action.
Spelly.
Oh dear, what are the RFL doing about it? Probably nothing.
The RFL - what the f do they know about the state of the game
they are tossers
Some notable inclusions, and absentees in their stuffing at Lawkholme Lane today.
Will they see the season out? Will they even see the month out? They (are due to) play 'Canes at home next week in the 1895, will that happen?
Is (the whole of) the Championship a millstone around the RFL's neck?
Spelly.
Cru's 1895 game with 'Canes on Saturday is off.
Have we seen the last of 'em?
It's looking ominous from where I'm sat. How say you Chemics?
Spelly.
Oh dear, what are the RFL doing about it? Probably nothing.
What do you expect the RFL to do? The clubs are private businesses. They shouldn't be going to the wall, especially early in the season but what do you expect them to do?
Bail them out? Lend them money they won't get back? Genuinely interested in your response. Loads of clubs are struggling, but at this level I'm not sure what they can do.
It is sad to see another Club looking about to go to the wall and I agree that the RFL have no interest in the game outside the over-hyped SL.
As the governing body for the game as a whole, surely they do have a duty to run the game for the benefit of all Clubs, not just those in SL.
Maybe they could start by bringing back promotion and relegation between SL and the Championship; or maybe agreeing a fairer distribution of central funds to all Clubs; or maybe tell us exactly what their long term plans are for the game as a whole and not just SL.
The grading system is good for the game, if implemented fairly; and Clubs should be expected to meet minimum standards in both SL and the Championship.
Just a thought, but under the Championship salary cap Nigel's salary could keep a Club going for a year. If we could have a vote amongst supporters whether to keep Nigel or NW Crusaders in the game, where would the vote go?
It is sad to see another Club looking about to go to the wall and I agree that the RFL have no interest in the game outside the over-hyped SL.
As the governing body for the game as a whole, surely they do have a duty to run the game for the benefit of all Clubs, not just those in SL.
Maybe they could start by bringing back promotion and relegation between SL and the Championship; or maybe agreeing a fairer distribution of central funds to all Clubs; or maybe tell us exactly what their long term plans are for the game as a whole and not just SL.
The grading system is good for the game, if implemented fairly; and Clubs should be expected to meet minimum standards in both SL and the Championship.
Just a thought, but under the Championship salary cap Nigel's salary could keep a Club going for a year. If we could have a vote amongst supporters whether to keep Nigel or NW Crusaders in the game, where would the vote go?
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said if implentmented fairly
waiting for that day to come
in the mean time clubs fall by the wayside
expect more - the rfl have no concern for teams below the promised land
trust me, I know a vicar
xx
@torn-sock-1 Of course it's the clubs fault but the RFL is also to blame, I thought clubs where supposed to acessed on their finances every year. Surely the IMG structure is able to tell a clubs financial state. A salary cap on income should of been implemented years ago. The RFL pay out for the likes of IMG and now some other company to do study of the game instead of looking after the state of the game. The so called board get handsomely paid yet they do fudge all for the game.
@prisoner 100%
The board (Which isn't a huge 1) takes up as much cost as a mid-level SL club.
It's insane in a poor sport that some are paid hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Unfortunately teams looking to survive on a few hundred supporters aren't ever going to last too much longer. Need to cut their cloth accordingly.