The Rugby Football League has said it is doing all it can to help the Crusaders' players after Tuesday's licence shock.
Rugby Football League wants to assist disgruntled players after licence shock
The Rugby Football League has said it is doing all it can to help the Crusaders' players following Tuesday's shock announcement that the club had withdrawn their Super League licence application.
Twenty four hours after the bombshell, which came as a complete surprise to the players of the Wrexham-based club, the RFL said it has scheduled meetings with the Rugby League Players' Association to try and resolve the issue of owed monies.
The licence withdrawal came at the 11th hour, meaning the Crusaders' three-year stay in the top flight will come to an end when the current season does.
However, the decision of club owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts was not relayed to the players until a matter of minutes before the official announcement.
A number of them subsequently made furious, expletive-laden statements via
Twitter.
At the root of their anger is the fact they are still owed money by the club relating to a pension scheme, and a number of them contacted the RLPA to seek advice.
The RFL has confirmed it is aware of the matter, and is looking for a way it can assist the players.
"Clearly this is a difficult time for everyone at Crusaders as there is a great deal of uncertainty following Tuesday's announcement," said chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer.
"We are exploring the option of Crusaders participating in the Co-operative Championship next season and are in constant touch with club officials.
"I contacted the Rugby League Players' Association at 11.02am on Tuesday morning and have a series of meetings planned over the next few weeks at which we hope to address many of the issues facing the Crusaders players and staff."
Criticism
Former Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas, who switched codes to join Crusaders last season, has criticised Moss and Roberts for being on holiday at the time of the announcement.
It is also understood the players are furious that Moss and chief executive Rod Findlay recorded interviews explaining the move for the league's official website on Monday night.
The Crusaders, who currently stand bottom of the table, have five games left to play and, with so many of their players disgruntled at their treatment, there have been doubts raised over whether that would happen.
But one of them, Lloyd White, has insisted they will play through to September, starting at Wakefield - one of the club's spared by Crusaders' demise - on Sunday.
"We're definitely going to stick it out," White told the
BBC.
"We don't have to play for anyone else. We play for ourselves and the fans now.
"I think it would be good for ourselves to go out and try to put a few performances together. It's going to be hard, we all know that.
"There are still boys who need to play (to) try to get contracts like myself. Obviously everyone needs to get contracts now.
"People like myself, Michael Witt, Rhys Hanbury, Ben Flower all signed long-term deals at the club.
"We should be getting paid until the end of the year, but we haven't been promised that. It's all up in the air."
Merit
Meanwhile, Wakefield have insisted they would have remained in Super League regardless of the decision taken by the owners of Crusaders.
The Wildcats remained favourites to lose their place in the elite on Tuesday morning, with the expected wake turning into a party when the news broke.
But club owner Andrew Glover has claimed the RFL told him that their place was awarded on merit.
In an open letter to supporters, Glover wrote: "What a great day we all had yesterday.
"It's great to see the efforts of all the staff and team paying off and a big well done from me for their work.
"I mentioned on [TV news programme] Calendar that we have been informed by Blake Solly, RFL compliance manager, that we won this licence on our own merit.
"It's a shame that the gloss was taken off our award by the mention of Crusaders removing their application.
"That being said, we here all know the truth that it's our efforts, commitment and hard work that has got us this licence."
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood attempted to clarify Solly's remarks, telling
Sky Sports' 'Boots 'n' All' programme: "I think there is a bit of presumption in the interpretation of what Blake has said.
"What Blake has said is that we originally had 15 applications for 13 places.
"When one of those applications withdrew in the form of Crusaders, the job became 13 licences from 14.
"Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were one of the best 13 applications."
