Will do.

Ramble, ramble, heads roll, ramble!!!!

FWIW
In the real world a business is liable for it's employees actions. For example if I ran a company with unlicensed software the company directors would be liable not me per se.

Indeed. You'd be liable for acts they carry out as an agent or on behalf of your company, or while on company business etc. Though not for any law breaking they did in their own time.

But it's only from the end of last year that you'd be liable for their immigration status.

Short answer: whether Crusaders are culpable will be decided by the UKBA's stated ongoing investigation into "any potential" liability by the club.

Not necessarily Wadski

i love how threads like this attract all the anti celtic crusaders onto it. like flies to s**t really.

big deal.

these players were all poor anyway so hopefully theyll improve the quality of their roster for next year

Sorry, I think your conclusion that this is anything to do with expansion is invalid. The most recent examples of RL mismanagement have inclulded Celtic, to be sure, but also Widnes, Doncaster and others, while clubs such as Skolars and Catalans are comparatively well-managed. Poor management has nothing to do with whether the club is in new or newish territory. After all, whatever faults Celtic have been exhibiting, they don't even come close to the management disasters which, for example, Widnes have visited upon themselves in the last decade.

It's worth remembering that most of our management cock-ups take place safely in the heartlands, not in expansion areas. If we're to take the view that instances of poor management should see us avoid an area, then we should be packing up from the M62 now and relocating to South London !

[url=http://www.jaman.com/download/?f=sub_player_share&clip=0lL-GMINo1wkLINK[/url

RFL statement on Celtic Crusaders



The RFL has asked the UK Border Agency for a copy of its report into alleged discrepancies in the visa applications of six Celtic Crusaders players.



The RFL is also speaking to Celtic Crusaders about the matter and feels it would be inappropriate to pass specific comment until further details are available.



The RFL would like to point out that the awarding of visas is an issue between players and the UK Border Agency, not the RFL. For clarification, the governing body would not refuse a player’s registration if the UK Border Agency approved a player’s status and the appropriate documentation was provided.

The RFL need to step in and head hunt a few professionals from others clubs to sort this mess out.

Careful what you wish for. If this bit is at all accurate...

...then they've been pinged for a practice that was widely used in NL1 and 2. If the UKBA decide to really look into this, there could be a large number of casualties - and nearly all of them among 'heartland' clubs.

UKBA wont have the guts to do it though Kosh, half the people playing football would be deported as well.

You reckon half the people playing football are here on student or working holiday visas? Really?

If you go lower down the leagues then there will be loads of irregularities unearthed, and not just in mainstream sports.

Taken from the RFL's Operational Rules:


IMMIGRATION STATUS
C1:4:4 The RFL will not at any time accept a registration application for an "overseas Player",
nor register the Player until it has received a copy of the Player's work permit or
satisfactory evidence that such a permit is not necessary in which case the Club must
provide a copy of the relevant immigration documentation. In cases of dispute relating
to work permits or other immigration documentation or the need therefore, the RFL will
consult the UK Border Agency and/or the Home Office as appropriate and the Board
shall take their comments or advice into account but the Board shall be entitled to
determine the matter concerned.


Now I know that there is a difference between a Visa and a Work Permit but presumably they are not mutually exclusive and if the RFL is obliged to check the one it should also have a responsibility to check the other.

Erm because nearly all clubs are heartland clubs.

There is nothing but hearsay to suggest this will affect any other clubs. Even if it does the quota at these clubs means it would only be a couple of players at each club max.

keep reaching for those straws

Actually, under the old rules you could have a valid work permit without a visa and [ivice versa[/i. In fact you needed a valid work permit before you could get a full visa IIRC.

Under the new system there are no longer two documents. You apply for the appropriate type of visa and it includes permission to work if you meet the requirements.

It's a little stronger than hearsay, although certainly not incontestable fact. There was plenty of discussion about the issue on certain RLFans boards alone when it became clear that this loophole was being closed under the new rules. If you prefer to believe that only 6 players in the history of RL have ever used this particular wheeze then you are free to do so if it makes you feel better.

The point is not the number of players involved at each club; the point is that under your approach all these clubs should be severely punished by both the RFL and the UKBA. Not to mention the further bad publicity for the game.

I've read some garbage in my time but that's up there with the best!!

So you think the immigration status of players in lower league sports is all above board?

Seeing as though no other club has even yet been suggested then maybe it is you reaching for the straws.

Maybe, just maybe, one of the people at the UKBA might have thought 'Hey you know what, if one Rugby League club are doing it, then maybe others are, let's investigate them too!'

Seeing as though they have been investigated for a while and no other clubs have yet been mentioned then it suggests there may be little wrong at other clubs.

It would be preposterous to even suggest that this balls up is any way linked to Widnes

.

We all know Widnes went [ibust[/i in 2007 and served their penance the season after.

The reason many Widnes fans felt so bitter was that they knew they were still the better prepared club with the new administration in charge regardless of the previous seasons troubles.

Widnes fans sensed that the new man in charge, SOC, was the real deal/messiah and hoped that this would convince the RFL to go with the new Widnes administration.

Unfortunately, what happened after the 2007 Grand Final gave the RFL the green light to push through Celtics bid before they had chance to consolidate the good work down in South Wales. (I do concede that it would have been difficult for the RFL to include Widnes but history now tells us it may have been the right choice).

Celtic were not prepared and regardless of going into administration, Widnes were.

Indeed. So why do it?

I just get the feeling that you're having another pop at Widnes, which you have done so for some time.

But that depends on which way I hear it doesn't it

.