Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:20 am  

What with all the ground issues between Cas & Wakey re: Super League survival, might we both survive anyway with Widnes replacing the Crusaders?

I have no doubt the RFL will do anything/everything within its power to prevent this, but the situation may become untenable:

Less than two years ago they almost went bust and broke all kinds of employment laws.

Now they are being investigated over long-term non-payment into player-pension-funds - plus the strong rumour of a winding-up order any day now.

This has to be the worst run club in the history of Super League - if the latest problems come to fruition then I don't see how any other club should lose a Franchise.

For the record - I'm all for expansion in the sport and accept that certain types of extra support towards such initiatives are inevitable but surely such lattitude must have its limits.

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:01 am  

I think it's worth pointing out that the pensions issue and HMRC claims also relate to the previous regime. Unfortunately the current bunch are still cleaning up Leighton Samuels' mess.

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:29 am  

StuMain wrote: I think it's worth pointing out that the pensions issue and HMRC claims also relate to the previous regime. Unfortunately the current bunch are still cleaning up Leighton Samuels' mess. I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm

StuMain wrote: I think it's worth pointing out that the pensions issue and HMRC claims also relate to the previous regime. Unfortunately the current bunch are still cleaning up Leighton Samuels' mess. I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:15 pm  

danny boy1 wrote: I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm The article doesn't look good does it? I am concerned about the comment from the RFL and the "plot our way through the difficulties" (or words to that effect). Im pretty certain they will get help from Red Hall again and they,along with the current Celtic owners will hang all of this around Leighton Samuel's neck and will continue on.

danny boy1 wrote: I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm The article doesn't look good does it? I am concerned about the comment from the RFL and the "plot our way through the difficulties" (or words to that effect). Im pretty certain they will get help from Red Hall again and they,along with the current Celtic owners will hang all of this around Leighton Samuel's neck and will continue on.

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:15 pm  

danny boy1 wrote: I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm The article doesn't look good does it? I am concerned about the comment from the RFL and the "plot our way through the difficulties" (or words to that effect). Im pretty certain they will get help from Red Hall again and they,along with the current Celtic owners will hang all of this around Leighton Samuel's neck and will continue on.

danny boy1 wrote: I'm sure the article I read on the subject mentioned there was also an issue with the current lot as far as pensions are concerned. ....when the new owners took over, it all started again. So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in. "The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it. There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. "We don't know the exact amount - it varies from player to player - but it is considerable. "Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances. "The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage." The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds but the union say these monies have gone missing. full article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm The article doesn't look good does it? I am concerned about the comment from the RFL and the "plot our way through the difficulties" (or words to that effect). Im pretty certain they will get help from Red Hall again and they,along with the current Celtic owners will hang all of this around Leighton Samuel's neck and will continue on.

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:23 pm  

Im concerned , looks like we will be fined again for some obscure rule not yet written, just to pay their way, and its only fair you know

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:25 pm  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/no ... gue-future Unbelievable. If they go into administration they'll probably suffer a 6pt deduction next season but if they then get their affairs back in order the RFL will ensure that they still have a Super League future! The rules for franchises were always a joke but they're now on the verge of making our beloved game a pointless completley contrived waste of time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/no ... gue-future Unbelievable. If they go into administration they'll probably suffer a 6pt deduction next season but if they then get their affairs back in order the RFL will ensure that they still have a Super League future! The rules for franchises were always a joke but they're now on the verge of making our beloved game a pointless completley contrived waste of time.

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:34 pm  

morrissey wrote:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/nov/04/crusaders-super-league-future

Unbelievable.

If they go into administration they'll probably suffer a 6pt deduction next season but if they then get their affairs back in order the RFL will ensure that they still have a Super League future!

The rules for franchises were always a joke but they're now on the verge of making our beloved game a pointless completley contrived waste of time.

Didnt think id get to say this so soon but ........................................................ TOLD YA SO, 3 YEARS AGO

The game bears more of a resemblance to a sporting entertainment like the wrestling than a pure sport. Promotion and relegation has to return before its too late to save the game

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:36 pm  

Lots of rumours going round to this effect

Rumour is that the RL have contacted all SL clubs advising that Crusaders will go into administration. RL want SL clubs to allow this to happen on the understanding that Crusaders will be allowed to continue in SL next season and be given a guarantee of a 3 year licence from 2012.

Clubs not happy and are demanding an EGM

Re: Crusaders Demise? : Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:25 pm  

Not looking good for them, i hope they can come out of the other side of this as we really need a welsh team in sl (though a stronger one with welsh players is whats really needed) wont make any differance to us though even with us having better crowds, youth, finances and higher average league finish the rfl would still choose them over us.

Might come in handy if they have players jumping ship though, wouldnt mind witt, scitofscke (sp) lupton, kear, o'hara or hanbury.