while i welcome the expansion of the game in Wales, in the past week Blackpool panthers went into admistration and then got their membership cancelled by the rugby league who did nothing to help them with debts or administration. Yet the RFL are bending over backwards to help crusaders. i understand you cant speak for the rfl but cant the fans see the contradiction and double standards involved........

rugby league is a family and all clubs should be treated the same pity we cant tell that to blackpool anymore.....

(message to mods I have posted this on crusaders board)

Feeling particularly argumentative today?

For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly.

For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly.

The RFL stated that they had helped as much as they could with Blackpool but there was no financial way they could survive the season. With very low crowds, little revenue and sponsorship input at a massive low the RFL didnt really have too much to feel positive about with the Blackpool club.

As for the Crusaders there seems to be a very positive feel in Wrexham and surrounding area about Rugby League. Union has never taken a hold of the area and football has seriously reduced in popularity. The club have been forced into bringing in expensive yet average Australians due to there not being enough willing English talent that could compete at this level. This has obviously put expendature up and not really given the club time to grow which in a way is the RFL's fault. I would love for there to be a big interest in the game over in Blackpool but it has shown there never will be especially while they have a Premiership football club.

What the RFL need to realise is doing things quickly very rarely works and often effects peoples lives. Without trying to big up Rovers too much, we had very little help from the RFL and with out a forward thinking, wealthy supporter in Neil Hudgell we would never be where we are today. The fans need to take some credit too with their persistant fund raising and charitable work they too have a great deal of responsibility for our Super League licence. I should imagine many clubs would now look towards Rovers to see how they did the things they did to make it and try to improve on that. What they can not do though is magic 1500-2000 home supporters every other week with many of them willing to take time out of their social lives to help the club in any way possible.

I have great hopes for the Crusaders as I honestly believe they are the best placed club to use as a stepping stone into Wales. They have shown in their one season they can drum up support and are willing to do things a little out side of the box. While feeling a tad sorry for Blackpool and their small band of supporters I do not think Rugby League in general will miss them.

Mild Rover wrote:For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly. Blackpool put forward a plan initially to liquadate the club and start again fresh as the only way to keep teh club going. However the RFL rejected that plan saying if they did so and hence avoided paying any creditors (especially HMRC) then they wouldn't accept them into Champ 1. So in the end that is what happened. Crusaders are only in administration as it sounds but do want to get rid of one company to lose debt and start a fresh under a new one. So though Blackpool was more serious if you like the precident had been set.

Mild Rover wrote:For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly. Blackpool put forward a plan initially to liquadate the club and start again fresh as the only way to keep teh club going. However the RFL rejected that plan saying if they did so and hence avoided paying any creditors (especially HMRC) then they wouldn't accept them into Champ 1. So in the end that is what happened. Crusaders are only in administration as it sounds but do want to get rid of one company to lose debt and start a fresh under a new one. So though Blackpool was more serious if you like the precident had been set.

Mild Rover wrote:For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly. I do acknowledge that and it is part of Blackpool's own doing in not putting forward plans and apologise i am not in a augmentative mood as another has posted but i do feel that if Blackpool was called Celtic or harlequins the rfl has in the past bailed out the Quins and has been well documented in doing that. but hope that rugby league will continue in the area.

Mild Rover wrote:For balance, the RFL statement on Blackpool: In an official statement, RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: "The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented. "Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL, as well as a commitment from the club's representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented. "With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9181759.stm Blackpool had not just gone in to administration, they'd ceased trading and essentially ceased to exist with no prospect of re-forming. Rochdale and Doncaster, for example and iirc, were allowed to continue as members with points deductions, as they could continue to field teams. I'm sure the RFL would have done the same for Blackpool. Crusaders seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt and are still just about worth perservering with IMO. It was always going to be tough but they need to become more stable quickly. I do acknowledge that and it is part of Blackpool's own doing in not putting forward plans and apologise i am not in a augmentative mood as another has posted but i do feel that if Blackpool was called Celtic or harlequins the rfl has in the past bailed out the Quins and has been well documented in doing that. but hope that rugby league will continue in the area.