Crusaders are placed in administration : Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:31 pm
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm
Super League club Crusaders entered administration on Friday. The troubled Welsh club released a statement saying that inherited debt had "made the business untenable". Crusaders faced a winding-up order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over unpaid tax, but last week announced they had repaid the amount owing. Joint administrators Peter O'Hara and Simon Weir have been appointed, although O'Hara indicated he was hopeful that the club could be saved. "There was a high level of support and enthusiasm towards Super League rugby in its first season in Wrexham which exceeded the club's expectations," O'Hara said. "We are currently pursuing a number of options and are talking to interested parties and the RFL [Rugby Football League] in the hope that a solution can be found to the club's current difficulties which would enable it to go forward and maintain rugby league in Wales." Although Crusaders had seemingly dealt with their tax problem, the Wrexham-based club also faced legal action from the Rugby League Players Association over claims of missing pension payments to players. Crusaders chairman Ian Roberts held a crisis meeting with fellow shareholders Geoff Moss - the Wrexham Football Club chairman - and Paul Atkinson last week, but at the time said he was "99% sure" of keeping rugby league at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground for next season. But the club shareholders were forced to take action at the High Court of Justice in Leeds on Friday to prevent the club from being wound up by creditors. The Welsh side impressed on the field last season as they reached the Super League play-offs under coach Brian Noble. Former Great Britain coach Noble took over from John Dixon when the Crusaders changed ownership and moved to Wrexham from Bridgend in south Wales early in 2010 because of financial problems. Crusaders had endured a dismal first season in Super League in 2009, finishing bottom of the table and having six players deported over a breach of visa regulations. Noble has since stepped down in charge, with his assistant from last season - Wales head coach Iestyn Harris - taking over the reins. In the past week Harris has signed two players - centre Paul Johnson and winger Stuart Reardon, both former Great Britain internationals - with prop Jamie Thackray leaving to join Barrow Raiders. |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 149935.stm
Super League club Crusaders entered administration on Friday. The troubled Welsh club released a statement saying that inherited debt had "made the business untenable". Crusaders faced a winding-up order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over unpaid tax, but last week announced they had repaid the amount owing. Joint administrators Peter O'Hara and Simon Weir have been appointed, although O'Hara indicated he was hopeful that the club could be saved. "There was a high level of support and enthusiasm towards Super League rugby in its first season in Wrexham which exceeded the club's expectations," O'Hara said. "We are currently pursuing a number of options and are talking to interested parties and the RFL [Rugby Football League] in the hope that a solution can be found to the club's current difficulties which would enable it to go forward and maintain rugby league in Wales." Although Crusaders had seemingly dealt with their tax problem, the Wrexham-based club also faced legal action from the Rugby League Players Association over claims of missing pension payments to players. Crusaders chairman Ian Roberts held a crisis meeting with fellow shareholders Geoff Moss - the Wrexham Football Club chairman - and Paul Atkinson last week, but at the time said he was "99% sure" of keeping rugby league at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground for next season. But the club shareholders were forced to take action at the High Court of Justice in Leeds on Friday to prevent the club from being wound up by creditors. The Welsh side impressed on the field last season as they reached the Super League play-offs under coach Brian Noble. Former Great Britain coach Noble took over from John Dixon when the Crusaders changed ownership and moved to Wrexham from Bridgend in south Wales early in 2010 because of financial problems. Crusaders had endured a dismal first season in Super League in 2009, finishing bottom of the table and having six players deported over a breach of visa regulations. Noble has since stepped down in charge, with his assistant from last season - Wales head coach Iestyn Harris - taking over the reins. In the past week Harris has signed two players - centre Paul Johnson and winger Stuart Reardon, both former Great Britain internationals - with prop Jamie Thackray leaving to join Barrow Raiders. |
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