Confusion Over Two Wrexham Championship Bids

Confusion has been caused after the Rugby Football League released a statement yesterday to say that they had received bids off two Wrexham-based clubs to play in the Co-operative Championships in 2012.

One bid is known to be backed by the Save The Cru campaign who are trying to get the Crusaders into the Championship and the second from an unknown club wishing to play in the Co-operative Championship One.

Crusaders fans have been left confused by the alternative bid, however the RFL were keen to stress that the Championship One bid is not a rival and that the group behind it has only asked for it to be considered should the Crusaders fail in their bid to play in the Championship.

The applications will be considered by the RFL Board of Directors on Friday, who are expected to announce their decision ahead of the 2011 Co-operative Championships Finals Day on October 2.

Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “That we have received two applications offers solid proof of the appetite that exists for professional Rugby League in North Wales and the desire the people of Wrexham have to build on the progress made by Crusaders during their three years in Engage Super League.

“Each application will be considered by the RFL Board separately and on its own merits.

“It is important to stress that these are not rival bids: the group behind the application to play in Championship One have asked that their proposal only be considered if the application to enter a club in the Championship is unsuccessful.”

Because of the confidential nature of the applications, the RFL will be making no further comment until the Board’s decision has been handed down to the applicants.

A representative of the Save The Cru campaign on the Crusaders RLFC Supporters Club page on Facebook said:

“The main stumbling blocks at the moment is after the clubs admins they (the RFL) are being very careful that we don’t go the same way. Which is understandable. They were also worried about player recruitment at this late stage. On the plus side, they were very pleased that we have managed to pass last season’s Super League total of season ticket pledges in less than a week. They’ve just got to look at the financial side of it all now and hopefully we will get the nod for Championship. “