Crusaders' Last 2 home games at Chester RUFC

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

This is in spite of Wrexham F.C., who have, by a strange coincidence, just taken over the lease of the ground from the University, being away from home on both weekends. Have we played our last home game there?

[gogledd]

This is in spite of Wrexham F.C., who have, by a strange coincidence, just taken over the lease of the ground from the University, being away from home on both weekends. Have we played our last home game there?

I've just come from a meeting with the Board of Directors.  Far too much 'conspiracy theory' regarding playing in Chester RUFC - its all to do with fixture clashes. The pitch at the Racecourse has only just been reseeded and understandably the football club are trying to protect it for their season which starts soon.

 

The Board have been in discussion with WFC to see if the stadium is an affordable option for next season. If it is then we could play there again but the football club will be looking to host a big concert there again next summer - so we could be out looking for another pitch to play on once more. We have to ask, would it be better to have a ground elsewhere where we can grow the club fanbase with regular games at one venue?

 

I will emphasise - nothing has been decided but options are being explored.

[DoubleD]

How have the football club been allowed to take the lease from the university though, leaving the Crusaders in such a situation?

Where else could the Crusaders have a base?

[gogledd]

How have the football club been allowed to take the lease from the university though, leaving the Crusaders in such a situation?

Where else could the Crusaders have a base?

Its a long story!!  Basically WFC was owned by two Directors who wanted to sell off the Racecourse to developers. WFC supporters formed a trust and bought them out and fended off a sale of the ground. The football club is now 100% supporters owned and this year they have taken on a 99 ear lease from the University who wanted it off their portfolio. It is estimated they will have to find £100k per annum for the upkeep and repair of the stadium. The Wrexham Supporters Trust has always wanted to take ownership of the Racecourse.

Whether we continue at the Racecourse will be primarily down to the cost of hosting games and whether the football club will be renting the ground out for major concerts each year (very likely), leaving us looking for a ground each summer.

 

Apart from the Racecourse the two best options are: 

the Rock (Cefn Druids), we have played there in the last two seasons when not in the Racecourse but it has had a new artificial pitch and we are not sure if it is compatible with playing Rugby League (this is being investigated)

Queensway Stadium, Wrexham. This currently doesn't meet the RFL standards, but we are investigating what it would take to meet the standards.

[JoneslessBishop]

Cedn Deuids doesn't look far from Wrexham but stadium doesn't look great, so if other Wrexham stadium needs work that not great.

Is a few games away from the Racecourse that bad. 1-2 for reseeding and 1 for a concert is hardly being rendered homeless.

Whilst 100k is a lot of money for Wrexham FC, they have a bigger income than Crusaders, who must still be considered a valuable tenant, and you chuck in the OD Wales RL game plus the big concert, they can't be far off?

[DoubleD]

Its a long story!!  Basically WFC was owned by two Directors who wanted to sell off the Racecourse to developers. WFC supporters formed a trust and bought them out and fended off a sale of the ground. The football club is now 100% supporters owned and this year they have taken on a 99 ear lease from the University who wanted it off their portfolio. It is estimated they will have to find £100k per annum for the upkeep and repair of the stadium. The Wrexham Supporters Trust has always wanted to take ownership of the Racecourse.

Whether we continue at the Racecourse will be primarily down to the cost of hosting games and whether the football club will be renting the ground out for major concerts each year (very likely), leaving us looking for a ground each summer.

 

Apart from the Racecourse the two best options are: 

the Rock (Cefn Druids), we have played there in the last two seasons when not in the Racecourse but it has had a new artificial pitch and we are not sure if it is compatible with playing Rugby League (this is being investigated)

Queensway Stadium, Wrexham. This currently doesn't meet the RFL standards, but we are investigating what it would take to meet the standards.

 

It's a bit of a shame that the Crusaders couldn't have linked up with WFC for a joint buyout of the lease and therefore benefitting from the extra revenue, whilst retaining their home

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

It's a bit of a shame that the Crusaders couldn't have linked up with WFC for a joint buyout of the lease and therefore benefitting from the extra revenue, whilst retaining their home

The problem there is that WFC would have rightly expected us to chip in for maintenance costs , which might have been too much for us. I can understand why they want more concerts - The Stereophonics one had 20k in the ground at £90 a pop. IF we're forced to move, in terms of location Queensway would be best as it's within the town. Much as I like Cefn Druids and Chester on a warm summer's afternoon, I'm not sure how keen I'd be on a wet, cold day in early March!

[DoubleD]

The problem there is that WFC would have rightly expected us to chip in for maintenance costs , which might have been too much for us. I can understand why they want more concerts - The Stereophonics one had 20k in the ground at £90 a pop. IF we're forced to move, in terms of location Queensway would be best as it's within the town. Much as I like Cefn Druids and Chester on a warm summer's afternoon, I'm not sure how keen I'd be on a wet, cold day in early March!

 

Of course they'd expect you to chip in for the maintenance but as you point out, there's clearly benefits from gaining extra revenue to offset this! Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be another nomadic RL club, without control of their destiny, with attendances withering

[JoneslessBishop]

With done temporary covered terracing behind the posts like Sheffields, Queensway could work. but its clearly an athletics stadium, so is it doable for the whole summer, so might you find yourselves homeless for a few games there as well?

Is the issue cost or not having garunteed fixtures? Doesn't seem like the latter. If the Racecourse is making 1.8mln from a Sterophonics gig, much of which will go to band and costs need to be covered, surely their take home must get close to that 100k.

So you are homeless for a few games from a stadium that is popular with locals and potentially up to SL standards, or potentially homeless for an athletics stadium which has neithe afvatage. I would plump for the former.

[Bearman]

On the bright side the food at Chester RU was the best we have had all season!

[LionelHurst]

Excellent Ron. I shall have a light breakfast that day then!

[leagueman123]

On the bright side the food at Chester RU was the best we have had all season!

Most be good rent Chester RU are getting too, they must be loving it.

[ELBOWSEYE]

Most be good rent Chester RU are getting too, they must be loving it.

Even though your general comments are a dig at anything league, the union clubs get on with all amateur and professional clubs in the heartlands and utilise facilities and most local union clubs are happy to push their talented juniors towards pro league clubs.

[gogledd]

DoubleD and Jonesless Bishop - Crusaders are in a financially difficult period. You may remember at the begining of this season we had our old CEO resigning which turf a number of irregularities most of the Board were unaware of. Consequently players too a paycut and had their contracts reconfigured, leading to a number of our senior players leaving and everyone tightening our collective belts.

 

We are not out of the woods and contributing to stadium maintenance and any large outgoings is out of the question.

 

We definitely don't want to be a nomadic club - and leaving the Racecourse each summer has cost us on attendances. The feeling is tat we'd be better of in one place for the whole of the season. If this is not the Racecourse, but somewhere where we could generate some additional income (bar, food etc) then so be it.

 

Bearman

The food at Chester is excellent - the chef is an award winner - and at £20 for pre-game food and a match ticket is great value.

[welshwire13]

I think any move away from the Cae Ras would be detrimental to crowd numbers, as has been proven with the dip in numbers heading to the Rock and Hare Lane. But the club's finances will prove the biggest stumbling block to any stay - the football club are going to want to generate revenue after taking over the lease and are going to want certain guarantees that the Crusaders are able to meet those costs.

I think NW Crusaders have a massive rebuilding job to do with local businesses. The mess and unpaid bills left by the previous regime means that a lot of local businesses (including the council) may be wary of linking up. Word of mouth is contagious.

I guess Queensway or (at a push) Deeside would be viable options with a bit on investment to bring them both up to standard.

[longboard]

Its a long story!!  Basically WFC was owned by two Directors who wanted to sell off the Racecourse to developers. WFC supporters formed a trust and bought them out and fended off a sale of the ground. The football club is now 100% supporters owned and this year they have taken on a 99 ear lease from the University who wanted it off their portfolio. It is estimated they will have to find £100k per annum for the upkeep and repair of the stadium. The Wrexham Supporters Trust has always wanted to take ownership of the Racecourse.

Whether we continue at the Racecourse will be primarily down to the cost of hosting games and whether the football club will be renting the ground out for major concerts each year (very likely), leaving us looking for a ground each summer.

 

Apart from the Racecourse the two best options are: 

the Rock (Cefn Druids), we have played there in the last two seasons when not in the Racecourse but it has had a new artificial pitch and we are not sure if it is compatible with playing Rugby League (this is being investigated)

Queensway Stadium, Wrexham. This currently doesn't meet the RFL standards, but we are investigating what it would take to meet the standards.

 

Does the football club have plans to buy the ground from the university in the future, rather than just being the leaseholders? 

[JoneslessBishop]

I suppose if it is Queensway, as long as RFL don't mind any temporary stands that are behind goals (if that is where they would go) being taken down when athletics dictates, then that may be more viable

[welshwire13]

Does the football club have plans to buy the ground from the university in the future, rather than just being the leaseholders?

I think that is the ambition. The Football Club are on a sound financial footing thanks to the supporters trust. Don't think it will happen for a long time.

[gogledd]

I think any move away from the Cae Ras would be detrimental to crowd numbers, as has been proven with the dip in numbers heading to the Rock and Hare Lane. But the club's finances will prove the biggest stumbling block to any stay - the football club are going to want to generate revenue after taking over the lease and are going to want certain guarantees that the Crusaders are able to meet those costs.

I think NW Crusaders have a massive rebuilding job to do with local businesses. The mess and unpaid bills left by the previous regime means that a lot of local businesses (including the council) may be wary of linking up. Word of mouth is contagious.

I guess Queensway or (at a push) Deeside would be viable options with a bit on investment to bring them both up to standard.

Deeside is definitely not an option - too many of the RFL's requirements to meet. Queensway could be sorted out but would take some effort from all concerned.

 

You're right about the previous regime - but it is that - "previous". The current board have to contend with this unfortunate albatross but hopefully the formation of a Supporters Trust and some absolute financial diligence will go a long way to restoring confidence. We are already at the point where all bills and wages are paid on time - at least thats a start.