Super League club Crusaders revealed on Friday that they have gone into administration.
Wrexham-based club take action to prevent winding-up petition
Super League club Crusaders revealed on Friday that they have gone into administration.
Shareholders for the Wrexham-based club took action at the High Court of Justice in Leeds to prevent the club from being wound up by creditors, who are thought to include HM Revenue and Customs and former owner Leighton Samuel.
Crusaders said they inherited a significant debt when they moved from Bridgend to Wrexham a year ago which has made the business untenable.
However, at the end of a season which saw them reach the play-offs for the first time under coach Brian Noble, who made way for Iestyn Harris earlier this week, they hope to re-form and continue in Super League in 2011.
Joint administrator Peter O'Hara said: "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.
"We are currently pursuing a number of options and are talking to interested parties and the RFL 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."
Plight
The club are currently the subject of a winding-up petition brought by HMRC, which was adjourned earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the GMB Union recently revealed they are also taking action on behalf of players over alleged missing pensions payments.
By going into administration, Crusaders are breaching the Rugby Football League's insolvency regulations and will almost certainly be deducted six points when the new Super League season starts.
Their current plight could also prove an important factor when the next round of Super League licence applications takes place next year, although the fact they are an expansion club would count in their favour.
A spokesman for the RFL said they were monitoring the situation but did not expect to make any comment until early next week.
"We are in dialogue with the club and will be speaking to the administrators in due course," he said.
After moving to north Wales and with Noble installed as head coach, Crusaders experienced a significant upturn in fortunes after picking up the wooden spoon in their first season.
They also enjoyed a significant increase in attendances from an average of 3,603 in their inaugural season at the Brewery Field to 4,616 at the Racecourse Ground.
Wales coach Harris has already announced the signings of his former Bradford team-mates Stuart Reardon and Paul Johnson for 2011.
