But that's the point.



It's not a "new club" - It's a failed club that's being allowed to start again as if last year was just a practise run.



As I said. they should have been put in to the National Leagues, where they could both prove themselves, build a fan-base and prepare for the step up to SL.

Surely the simple answer to all of these gripes is simple. Don't go and watch them either home or away, it won't take long for every other club to get sick of the lack of gate at home and the message would be clear to the RFL.

Crusaders problems are not popular by a long way but I'm not sure they are a new club. They haven't been put into administration that I know of.

Loads of "heartlands" clubs have been in admin and been started again as "new" clubs.

Bradford, HKR, Widnes, Rochdale, Oldham to name a few.



Celtic's problems are no longer financial, they are their squad. Noble has not had time to sign and train them and quality is going to be a problem.

End of season they are eveyone's 14th club including mine.



However they do have a good ground and it will likely bring in more revenue than the likes of Salford or Quins. Their overall revenue situation will depend on the crowds. Long term they will attract players from areas west of the pennines and we need a SL club nearer to us than S Wales.



The original difficulties with Celtic have been overcome and the outcome is that where as five years ago we didn't have any clubs in Wales we now have two.

Hopefully from 2012 there will be 5 SL clubs near to us. Saints, Wire, Salford, Widnes and Crusaders. With two outside the northern areas Quins & Cats.

The Celtic situation could have ended far worse for Rugby League than it has and in that respect I'm more than happy with the outcome.

The Harlequins game is going to be in South Wales, 100% certain.

London got RFL help on more than one occasion and any new team that is started to expand the game will get the same.



They have found a new backer and a ground which is one of the better ones in Super League. A very good potential fan base yes they have been pulled out of the proverbial but at least give them to the middle of next season to prove themselves under the new management. Then if they have not improved then complain to the RFL to stop them getting a new franchise.

What difference does travel time make, FFS?



How do you think football or yawnion fans get on? They travel up and down the country to get to away matches on a regular basis, so why is it such a big problem when we have to do it once in a blue moon?



Get a grip.

Yeah but its not once in a blue moon. Its every home game. Wigan should play more games in Gloucestershire.

I think it may make a difference if you work 60+ hours a week, have a couple of kids to look after etc. Oh, and then the cost is going to be greater. What percentage of home crowds of Union/Football travel to the 4/5 hour distant matches BTW?



With your view we may as well have a South African team in the SL too, sure it takes a while to get there but there really isn't an issue is there?

Utterly stupid statement.

They've been reprimanded for that and lost a lot of their senior players which is a far greater punishment than anybody else in rugby league has ever been given who have cheated the rules, Wigan included.







Any club in any sport can suffer, you only need to look at Portsmouth FC and Crystal Palace to see that. Just because the business side of things AFTER the licence was awarded has struggled doesn't mean their on the field achievements should not be rewarded.







After everything that has happened, the move from South Wales and the poor first season I am inclined to agree that the Crusaders have been fast tracked into Super League without proper consideration as to how they will cope but they have two years to prove that is now behind them and to move forward - to right them off at every opportunity is detrimental to them and to the sport on the whole IMO.

We're obviously dealing with a flatcapper, here. No neeeeeeeeed to go further that th'M62 lad. It's allus bin like that, why change it?



Yes, I do 60+ hours a week, I have a kid and I have to pay to attend games too. Same as several thousand others.



4/5 hour travel time to matches in other sports? Let me think. A damn sight more than us RL lot, who have it easy.







Don't be silly.

Yes a bit like the one where nobody cares about travel, and indeed yours. It's not rocket surgery to figure out that travel does matter.