North Wales Crusaders get RFL green light to resume season

North Wales Crusaders relocated to Colwyn Bay's Eirias Stadium from Wrexham in 2021 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

But in April the Surrey-based EggChaser Group announced it would "no longer fund the additional costs to run the club with immediate effect".

Players, who had not been paid for a number of months, subsequently left the club with their contracts null and void.

The club were forced to forfeit their 1895 Cup tie against Midlands Hurricanes and were forced to cancel their league game away to Doncaster.

"I just think the previous owners have lived beyond their means basically and it became very obvious to them that they couldn't fill the pictures," said Anderson, who outlined the situation the club was in at a fans forum in Wrexham on Wednesday.

"They basically pulled the funding and refused to pay players essentially, and that became a legality with the former players that have now left.

"So the squad which we built up in the beginning of this year have now gone to other clubs.

"At the moment we are speaking to players' agents to assemble a squad for a fixture which is going to happen on Saturday.

"I do think the like-minded people coming together who love the club, if you cut them open they'll be Crusaders through and through.

"We're people that care about the club and it's basically been a race against the clock to get the business plan over, and the proposals over that have been signed off by the RFL.

"We're very confident that we're in a good place and we will succeed."

North Wales Crusaders were formed in 2011 after the previous incarnation – Crusaders – pulled out of Super League and subsequently folded.

"We've gone through this several times before but the fans are resilient and they will fight and we will not let it go," Anderson added.

"It brings the community together in some aspects as well and I think it's hard hats on, camaraderie, let's do it and that bringing almost a community spirit.

"Yes, it's nice to win a game but it's not about that really - it's about community.

"Obviously we had our ambitions at the beginning of the year but the squad was worth six figures - now it's five figures.

"You're going to see a bit of a difference.

"We've got to be realistic about it. We're not going to win every game and it's going to be some tough afternoons.

"But... the narrative has changed, it's all about existing and I think as long as we can compete and fulfil our obligations we're in a good place."