Geez. How dull and parochial are some RL fans.

But didn't have the solid backroom, nor stadium. But I still feel that the heartland teams like Widnes were going against Salford rather than Celtic.

Of course if we're going on finishing positions then Celtic were the losers in the GF that year and therefore deserved their place.

Im all for expansion, but this type of thing just puts a massive dent in the sports credibility, and in the attempts to grow the game.

Celtic Crusaders look at best shambolic, and at worst a criminal organisation.

It would appear that the illegal visas relate not to this year but to earlier seasons. Therefore Celtic gained promotion through the divisions and ultimately into SL under false pretences.

That must leave a very bitter taste for fans of clubs denied entry to the championship and also SL.

Consider alos that Salford gained their franchise via a mythical stadium plan, whose trading company Red city developments collapsed into liquidation within days of them being granted a franchise.

It therefore makes a mockery of the franchising process and brings it into disrepute.

You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.

Didn't Leighton Samuels say that that some had been brought over with visas for his other company a few weeks back? When there was a big deal about their finances?

But was that the problem which resulted in the deportations? That information hasn't been released has it? Only that there were irregularities with their visas. As yet, investigations into the club have not been completed so we don't know whether that arrangement or indeed any other was the cause of the problem or meant that the club has been complicit in some way. We'll find out soon enough. Personally, I hope the club is cleared. The fans down there could do with a break.

Sky text says that the visas were 'insufficient' so it may be. Added to that, weren't most of these going to be binned by the club after this season?

I get the feeling that the club won't get away scot free from this, but you are correct, we don't know the facts as yet so it is all supposition at the moment.

But it is so far unknown how long they have been over here illegally. If it is (as looks likely) longer than just this year then these illegal players, many of which are some of their best players ( Jace van dyke, mark dalle cort, tony duggan etc) had a huge part to play in securing that finishing position.

Talking to people from South Wales whilst on holiday they said that Celtic dont really stand much chance and arent really getting anywhere down there.

The truth is not always what you want it to be. The simple option would be to lob em out at the end of this season, an action i think should be taken. But who comes in is seemingly a lottery.

Quote SaintsFan="SaintsFan"You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.'" Im not jumping the gun www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/au ... ians-visas The key bit in the Guardian report is as follows: the club remains the subject of investigation by the[size=150 Border Agency [/sizewhich has already [size=150concluded that deception was used [/sizein bringing the players into the country. Nice news article on what the government does re companies employing illegal imigrants news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7462373.stm

Quote SaintsFan="SaintsFan"You have jumped the gun. The Borders Agency haven't completed their investigations yet where the club is concerned so we have no idea whether they were deliberately complicit, accidentally so or entirely innocent.'" Im not jumping the gun www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/au ... ians-visas The key bit in the Guardian report is as follows: the club remains the subject of investigation by the[size=150 Border Agency [/sizewhich has already [size=150concluded that deception was used [/sizein bringing the players into the country. Nice news article on what the government does re companies employing illegal imigrants news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7462373.stm

We've just had an in depth discussion on the subject.

Where is the RFL's statement.
If it was only "There will be a statement shortly"

The silence is deafening.

As much as people criticised Mo Lindsay there would have been some sort of response by now.

Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.

Something else to ponder. IF the club is found guilty then under immigration law a company employing staff illegally can face a fine of £10k per player. eg £60k fine in total. Celtic would need to pay that within a fixed period, say 30 days, failure to do this could possibly result in a winding up order from the courts, with seizure of assets etc. www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac ... 1073791109 Such a move would kill the club stone dead.