Rugby League: Crusaders open to offers

THE League is to help London Crusaders in their search for new directors to put badly- needed capital into the club, writes Dave Hadfield.

Maurice Lindsay, the League's chief executive, is holding talks with 'interested third parties' who may join, or even replace, the present owners, Richard and Samantha Bartram.

Despite being second in the Second Division after their most successful spell since their bright dawn as Fulham in the early 1980s, Crusaders are attracting an average crowd of under 1,000 to their new home in Barnet.

The leading Australian club, Brisbane Broncos, have said that they want to start a team in London but the League says that the plan, if it ever comes to fruition, would not lessen their commitment to the Crusaders, who earlier this month took out a loan from the League for the first time.

Two of Warrington's Welshmen, Allan Bateman and Rowland Phillips, have come safely through reserve-team comebacks and are available for the Regal Trophy tie at St Helens on Saturday.

Andrew Farrar, who played for Wigan last season, is coming out of retirement to join the Illawarra Steelers in Australia's Winfield Cup.