NORTH WALES CRUSADERS say they need to know whether they have an RFL licence for next season as soon as possible.
As well as aiming to improve results under incoming new coach Stuart Simmons, the Championship’s basement side have big plans to go national, becoming Wales Crusaders and playing matches in Bridgend in the south (at a stadium they will part own) as well as Colwyn Bay on the north coast.
It’s been a traumatic campaign for Crusaders, who were saved from extinction in May when current chairman Jamie El-Kaleh led a group who kept the club afloat following an insolvency event under the previous ownership.
The licence given by the RFL was for this year only, with its continuation depending on the presentation of a “comprehensive business plan”.
Last year’s League One champions Crusaders were also handed a deduction of twelve league points and having lost the bulk of their players after they became free agents due to the insolvency, forced to work under a sustainability player cap.
A makeshift squad have struggled on the pitch, with all 13 games under the current owners ending in defeat, many of them heavy.
The club’s plans going forward, which include playing “four or five” games at the Electric Brewery Field in Bridgend as well as running a development team based in the south of Wales, clearly depend on getting the green light from the governing body.
And in an open letter to supporters, El-Kaleh said: “Following the conclusion of our final home fixture of the year (the 90-6 defeat by Keighley), I am writing to you directly to share where things stand.
“Last Sunday, our leadership, staff and players were put in an unacceptable position.
“We had to face our loyal fans, partners and sponsors and frankly admit that we still have no answers as to whether we will have a licence for 2027.
“To be direct, this is the most difficult and demoralising point of this entire process.
“Standing in front of people who pour their passion, time and financial investment into this club with no clarity on our future. It leaves us feeling utterly helpless, and quite frankly, it is not right.
“We want to be entirely transparent with you. We have contacted the RFL urgently for answers. We have given them everything they have asked for throughout this process.
“We demand clarity. We need urgent, definitive answers regarding our licensing status immediately so we can make an informed decision about how we proceed. I want closure this week.
“Thank you for your unwavering support through this challenging time.”