YORK City Knights have spoken of their frustration following yet another delay in the saga surrounding the Crusaders’ application to join the Co-operative Championships.

The Knights ended the season in the Championship drop zone but will be spared relegation if the new-look Welsh outfit are placed in Championship One rather than the Championship following their withdrawal from Super League, or if Barrow are demoted due to off-field misdemeanours.

A decision on Crusaders’ application, which only met the Rugby Football League’s deadline by minutes, was initially expected before the Championships’ play-offs began nearly a fortnight ago, but it has been continually put back – most latterly yesterday.

The RFL had expected a decision “early this week” – as revealed in Saturday’s Press – but now say the application won’t even be considered by their board of directors until this Friday, and it could be as late as the Championships Grand Finals Day, some nine days later, on October 2 before an announcement is made.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: “It’s extremely frustrating. It’s been going on quite a while now. It just seems to be getting pushed back and pushed back.

“As we’ve said all along, I just hope they make a decision as soon as possible. I hope it doesn’t take nine days after the meeting.”

Dewsbury, who finished below York, are likewise in limbo. They need both Crusaders and Barrow to land in Championship One to be saved from relegation. Barrow face a tribunal on October 3.

Conspiracy theories abound on why a decision on Crusaders is taking so long. Wilson would not comment on these but added: “I understand it might be difficult to sort a date for the RFL board to meet but if they’re meeting on Friday, I can’t see why they can’t make a decision on Friday.

“If all the information is not there that’s required to put Crusaders in the Championship, then put them in Championship One. They’ve had long enough now.”

The RFL have confirmed, as reported by The Press on Saturday, that they have received two applications from prospective Wrexham-based clubs. This has probably added to the hold-up.

The RFL’s statement said: “One application is for a club to participate in the Championship; the second is from a club wishing to play in Championship One.

“The applications will be considered on Friday by the RFL board of directors, who are expected to announce their decision ahead of the Co-operative Championships Finals Day on October 2.”

Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s chief operating officer, said: “That we have received two applications offers solid proof of the appetite that exists for professional rugby league in North Wales and the desire the people of Wrexham have to build on the progress made by Crusaders during their three years in Super League.

“Each application will be considered separately on its own merits.

“It is important to stress these are not rival bids: the group behind the application to play in Championship One have asked that their proposal only be considered if the application to enter a club in the Championship is unsuccessful.”