But Gateshead did not go into administration or am I wrong? Did they not get taken over buy another company?

same difference the 'old' company was dissolved which is contrary to RFL rules ohh hang on a minute Crusaders and Harlequins didn't they do the same?? but Gateshead did the honorable thing and asked to be relegated.

But did Gateshead only owe money to a director or directors of the club. The others were on the verge of being taken to court by the tax man.

they still broke the rules no matter who the monies were owed to its still debt the RFL rules do not distinguish as to who the 'dosh' is owed

I find it all absolutely pointless and farcical even deducting points, Crusaders have been a joke from the start .
I just feel the RFL have taken the p*** with it all.

Why not set some simple rules and post them on the RFL website for everyone to see.

How about.........
Any RL club going into administration will be deducted the points equivalent of 3 league wins.

Black & white, easy to understand and applies to everyone.

I think that's what most of us crave, Jenky. However, they seem to have the knack of employing 'special circumstances', regularly!

I understand why the RFL is so keen to get Harlequins, London Crusaders, London Broncos, Crusaders, Celtic Crusaders, Gateshead Thunder into SL, but they set out all these strict guidelines and enforce them on every club other than the ones that can't run themselves.

By the way, it's Nighthawks avatar that I think we should have as our club badge, knew there was a poster with a cracking Leigh Centurions Logo as an avatar.

IMO the bollox that the Crusaders found themseves in was entirely caused by the RFL fast tracking them into SL when they weren't ready They should have been allowed to develop and progress naturally

I hope the clowns bare that in mind when they think of fast tracking Toulouse , Bogner Regis Bullfrogs et al that too many cooks and all that and that they have an exemplary record of fooking everything they touch up

4 points, 9 points, so what - it doesn't matter. If they finish bottom they still wont be relegated.
Like many things in RL recently - the game doesn't matter. Soon we will know which championship side will be in SL in 2012 season - so this season doesn't matter to them.
The team who win the champoinship this season, wont get promoted - so it doesn't matter.

Suppose it could matter for 2015 licence applications, IF the RFL decide to go along that route again.

What? No boxes to tick this time. You have to feel for Halifax, Barrow and Fev and Batley (or whoever doesn't get in in March) as the boxes they ticked will then become unticked boxes like the rest of us.

You`ve .just stumbled upon the RFLs next franchise criteria..........5 pts for every unticked box.

Or the first one to throw a six.

Rubbish.
You need to learn the difference between SLE and the RFL.
The administration rule was dropped as the Crusaders arent the only club going down this road and if Leeds Rhinos lose the test case in court on behalf of the RFL they could well find themselves taking this option also. Turkeys don't vote for christmas.

I agree it should be a set standard rate accross the board, except for mitigating circumstances, like, what could happen with the Rhinos for example where it's said the one payment to HMRC would be in excess of £1 million.