Rugby league club chairman shares statement after record loss as message sent to fans

North Wales Crusaders chairman Jame El-Kaleh has shared a statement with the club’s fans after the Welsh side slipped to a record defeat in rugby league.

London Broncos scored 25 tries and won 134-0 against the Crusaders in the largest margin of victory in the history of the top two flights of professional rugby league in England, since the sport’s foundation in 1895.

It’s obviously a devastating result for the Crusaders but considering where the club were just weeks ago, on the brink of not existing on account of their financial issues, it’s still progress and that is the theme of the message that chairman El-Kaleh has sent.

El-Kaleh sold the club to former owners Eggchaser, who then pulled funding and left the club on the brink before El-Kaleh got back involved to save the club. During that period of uncertainty, many players left the club which is why results have been so heavily skewed against North Wales.

Despite that, the chaiman was clear in his message that standards hit a new low on Sunday in the record defeat, with a message shared on the club’s social media.

“I wanted to speak to you directly following yesterday’s result,” it opened.

“We know the performance on the pitch fell short of the standards we want for this club, and we fully understand the frustration and disappointment felt by our supporters. Nobody inside this club is hiding from that.

“Just four weeks ago, our biggest fight was making sure North Wales Crusaders still had a future. Together, we have taken some huge steps off the field to protect the club, rebuild trust and give the Crusaders a foundation to move forward from. I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time.”

The message then focused on the next steps, stating:  “But we also know this: at our heart, we are a rugby club. Now that the immediate threat to our survival has been navigated, our focus must turn firmly to the rugby operation. We are fully committed to supporting Mike Grady and the players. We will work closely with Mike to give him the support he needs, within the realities of where we are as a club, to improve our performances on the field.

“Rebuilding a club from the brink is not easy. There will be difficult days, painful results and bumps along the road. Yesterday was one of those days. But it does not change our belief in what we are building, and it does not change our commitment to doing this properly.

“Your support is the reason this club is still here. You have stood by North Wales Crusaders when it mattered most, and we do not take that for granted.

“We will keep working, we will keep listening, and we will keep pushing to build a team and a club that you can be proud of. Thank you for your continued loyalty, passion and belief.”

North Wales next play Whitehaven on Sunday 14th June with the Cumbrian club sat in 14th, 15 points ahead of the Crusaders albeit 12 of those are due to the Welsh side’s prior point deduction.