There I was thinking I was reading Leigh's matchday programme and had to look again at the cover just to make sure. Almost more lineage seems to have been given over to the plight of the Crusaders than our own issues here at Leigh. Even a photo of Jarrod Sammut is on the inside page.

Thankfully Alan Edge states the views contained in his article are "not necessarily those of the Leigh Centurions club or its Directors". We all know we shouldn't always believe what we read in the media and this is certainly true here. A factually incorrect piece in many respects and unfortunately some, as they often do, will believe these ramblings.

We have enough issues of our own at Leigh than to glory in the sad state of affairs at Crusaders where Super League HAS NOT FAILED. In this instance the owners - who have absolutey no interest in rugby league and have also failed Wrexham Football club have led the poor staff, players and, yes, the most fantastic enthusiatic supporters of rugby league a merry dance.

I'm just about to set off home now to that 'wasteland of rugby league' and when I have chance I will correct the misguided thoughts of Mr. Edge and probably many more 'flatcappers' who prefer to believe what they read in the press.

For over 40 years I have continued to support and watch Leigh while living in North Wales and have supported Crusaders since the Super League licence was awarded. I am therefore in a position to see all sides of the licensing argument rather than taking a one-eyed stance as some choose to do.

Let's concentrate on our own financial problems at Leigh otherwise there may be no team for any of us to support next season.

Happily the Crusaders (not the aforementioned owners) are receiving much support and gestures of goodwill from other rugby league fans across the country in their detemination to continue in North Wales.

They are also receiving potfulls of money , and have had potfulls in the past , will the RFL be as generous to Leigh and others if the positions were reversed

I hope a new club can be formed and would be quite happy for the RFL to fund them , as long as it was all out in the open , and as soon as they reach a certain level that extra funding would be withdrawn , and they then would have to stand or fail on their own

Bramley, Blackpool, Prescot Panthers, Chorley Borough, Carlisle, etc
Now if they had have been in Wales, would they be extinct ???

What pot full of money are we recieving at present? The rfl are using what's left of the Crusaders sky money to part pay the players wages, we have been asked to buy tickets, merchandise for the last two games with cash, because it appears that our owners have totally pulled the plug financially and we are fighting to stay afloat so we can finish the season, so as not to disadvantage the other teams in the league. We have had bucket collections, half for charity, the other half to pay the stadium and playing staff.
Not wanting to sound bitter but would you class Leigh's stint in super league as a sucess?

To 'crusading leyther'

Thanks for buying the magazine, and for your comments on the 'Flat Cap' feature. In writing for/editing 'The Centurion' it has never been my intention to upset anyone so, as I have obviously hit a raw nerve, I apologise if you are offended by my comments.

However, the article is, and always has been, an attempt at satire, with a swipe at the 'powers that be'. It is written from the viewpoint of a 'flat capper' who resists change, believes that the Game isn't always progressing, and that the Earth is still flat. (go on, that's probably 'factually incorrect' too, but I seem to remember reading that suggestion in a paper somewhere!

) Maybe surprisingly, there are many other fans, some of whom are at Leigh, who do not necessarily subscribe to the view that the Welsh adventure has cast the Sport or the RFL in a good light.

I look forward to seeing which of my points are factually incorrect, but you have to admit that many of them are true. I would like to state that some of the points you quote/highlight have not been written by me. (e.g. where SL in Wales has 'FAILED', or that you were returning to the 'wasteland of rugby league' - your words, not mine) I take your point about not believing everything you read in the press, but would be interested in where you have been able to obtain the information enabling you to 'see all sides of the licensing argument'.

On your point that too much space was being devoted to topics other than Leigh Centurions, the editorial team likes to maintain a balance in the magazine. For instance, we like to say a few words about our opponents, and feature topics of general interest, from respected RL correspondents. I would not dream of dictating to such journalists, what they should write about - especially when they're doing it for nothing! Yes, there was a picture of Jarrod Sammutt, amongst other non-Leigh photos (e.g John Kear, Justin Morgan and Iestyn Harris)

You are also right to say that we need to focus on our own financial problems at Leigh. That is why I, with others, am also actively involved with Trevor Barton's Professional Support Group, in attempting to improve the situation at the Club. As for the stance of 'The Centurion', on the club's problems, we can only print what is available to print on this matter, at the time of going to press. More light may be shed on events at the Fans' Forum on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, thanks again for your views on this week's edition of 'The Centurion. I hope you will still buy one next week!

The RFL are guaranteeing the players wages , and possibly making a contribution to the pension shortfall as well , the SKY money won't cover those wages on their own

Previously the RFL were paying the original Celtic Crusader players to play full time by putting money through Leighton Samuels company which was then paid to the players as RL development officers

In 2005 Leigh played in SL and broke even , we didn't promise to pay money we didn't have , we didn't go into administration

As I said I do hope a new club can be formed and take a place within the Championships , but if any extra is given it must be done out in the open , and if that was to happen it must include a non promotion clause if the integrity of the competition and the club is to be retained IMO of course

Don't include our season in SL in comparing Crusaders we actually got there by Winning the right to do so.

Top two teams promoted, Salford and the Celtic Crusaders. How unfair that was, I bet your glad the rfl arn't bothering with that sort of on field performance rated stuff this year!

Rfl are not paying the missing pension payments. If they had been more diligent, you would have thought that they would have noticed that the money was going missing. They knew about it in 2009, so the buck stops with them. Prehaps they can get Catalans to part with some of their "orange" money. Nobody else is in super league is allowed to sell tv rights to their games. And before you start, S4C wasn't paid for it's welsh language cover of Celtic Crusaders games.

Celtic crusaders 'promoted' whilst playing 6 illegal players (RFL knew). How unfair was that........next

Playing with a slightly 'stacked deck' though weren't they - having 7 or 8 (illegal as it turned out!) Aussies in their ranks? (when the rules applying to the rest of the division limited everyone else to 1).......oh, and when we were in SL, we weren't given 3 seasons grace to establish ourselves - nor months of preparation time to establish a squad!!
And I reckon we still averaged better crowds in our one season in SL than the Welsh managed in either of their 'manifestations'!!

Had they established a fanbase, and played their way up through the ranks using the same set of rules as everyone else - instead of being fast-tracked, then maybe there would be more sympathy for the current Welsh plight.

I did say ' possibly ' in reference to the pension payments , other than that you don't point to any untruths or wrong assumptions in my post , I don't blame the Crusaders for anything , it is without doubt the RFL s fault , but don't start throwing crap at us in defence of the truth

The Crusaders were doomed from the start because they didn't have the support of the town , moving them was just an attempt to get the away support from the other SL clubs to finance them , and as we know that doesn't work either

So putting the past in the past , we need more Championship clubs , there is a support base in the north Wales area , hopefully the RFL won't mess about trying to find another businessman looking to make money and will fund a new club from the start , but do it openly and fairly on the other Championship clubs