Crusaders get RFL green light by RFL!

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Crusaders get RFL green light

The RFL Board of Directors has agreed to re-admit Crusaders RL as full members of the RFL and the Super League.

The decision was taken at a meeting at Red Hall earlier today when the board ruled that Crusaders RL must start the 2011 Engage Super League season with a four-point deduction for breaching the RFL?s insolvency rules.

Crusaders RL went into administration in early November but today?s decision clears the way for the club?s owners to complete the process of bringing the club out of administration early next week.

Crusaders Ian Roberts said: ?While we are disappointed with the points deduction, this is fantastic new for the club, the town and the future of rugby league in North Wales.

?We were always committed to the club and to the future of Rugby League in North Wales and we are determined to build on last season?s success. There is still a lot of hard work to be done off the field, but we believe this now gives the club a fresh start and we can concentrate on what we hope will be another fantastic year here at the Racecourse Ground.?

Crusaders Chief Executive Rod Findlay added: ?This is the news everyone has been waiting for. Everyone involved in the club can now look forward to the future after what has been a difficult and challenging few weeks for everyone involved in the club.

?We are disappointed to start the season on -4 points but we believe Iestyn and the squad can turn that into a positive and hit the ground running next season. There is a tremendous appetite for rugby league here in North Wales and we can now look towards the future.?

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Thank god for that! I was very worried, but we need to get behind Rugby League in Wales. Rugby League and Wales has a proud and under developed history.

I'm behind the Crusaders 100%

Shame about the points reduction, but hopefully it will urge the club onward.

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Crusaders suffer points deduction

Crusaders have been readmitted to Super League but the troubled franchise will start the 2011 season on minus four points for going into administration.

The Welsh club hope to come out of administration on Monday but the Rugby Football League imposed the points deduction for their financial issues.

Crusaders' future was in doubt when they went into administration with debts thought to be around ?1.25m.

A Crusaders statement said this "brings an end to weeks of uncertainty."

A majority of Crusaders' debts were inherited from their time in south Wales before the new Super League club relocated to north Wales and Wrexham in the summer of 2009 under new ownership.

The Crusaders have a winding-up order dismissed in London's High Court on 17 November after the club went into administration.

The financial negotiations are thought to have been about the amount of debt that the current owners were prepared to take on.

Owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts have been locked in talks with appointed administrators O'Hara and Co for weeks in a bid to stabilise the Racecourse Ground club.

And Super League's formal acceptance to welcome them into the 2011 competition, which starts on 13 February against Salford City Reds at the Millennium Stadium, is the latest boost for the financially-troubled club.

A conclusion to the administration process is imminent and now we can focus on the future

Crusaders chief executive Rod Findlay
So new Crusaders chief Iestyn Harris, who has already made two signings, will have to start is first full season as a club coach on minus four points as the club suffered the punishment for going into administration.

"While we are disappointed with the points deduction," said chief Roberts. "This is fantastic new for the club, the town and the future of rugby league in north Wales."

And new Crusaders chief executive Rod Findlay added: "This is the news everyone has been waiting for.

"Everyone involved in the club can now look forward to the future after what has been a difficult and challenging few weeks for everyone involved in the club.

"We are disappointed to start the season on minus-four points but we believe Iestyn and the squad can turn that into a positive and hit the ground running next season.

"There is a tremendous appetite for rugby league here in North Wales and we can now look towards the future.

"A conclusion to the administration process is imminent and now we can focus on the future and make sure the club secures its Super League status for many years to come."

Roberts now hopes the Crusaders can build on their 2010 season when coach Brian Noble transformed the club from Super League's bottom club to qualifying for the play-offs.

Noble left the Crusaders at the end of last season when his assistant Harris was promoted to head coach.

"There is still a lot of hard work to be done off the field," said Roberts.

"But we believe this now gives the club a fresh start and we can concentrate on what we hope will be another fantastic year here at the Racecourse Ground."

Source: BBC