Hamilton bitter over Celtic tale

OLDHAM chief executive Chris Hamilton admits the tale of woe concerning Celtic Crusaders has left a bitter taste in the mouth.

Six Australians from the Super League club have been ordered to leave the country due to serious visa offences after United Kingdom Border Agency investigations found that the players, including captain Jace van Dijk and prolific record try scorer Tony Duggan, turned out illegally for the Welsh club.

The period in question incorporates the 2007 season, when all those players represented the club in National League Two matches against the Roughyeds — who were pipped at the post in terms of promotion after losing the play-off final to Featherstone Rovers.

Celtic went up to National League One as champions that season, a necessary step in ruling the club eligible to apply for the three-year Super League licence they subsequently received.

“We feel aggrieved as they won the National League Two competition we were competing in with a team containing a number of players who have now been shown to be here illegally,” said Mr Hamilton.

“We haven’t had time to fully digest what has happened. But it does seem that there can be little done now to reverse what happened, seeing as it was two years ago.”

The Crusaders will now be without the six men — Van Dijk, Duggan, Damien Quinn, Mark Dalle Cort, Darren Mapp and Josh Hannay — for their final three matches of what has been a poor first Super League season. None will be able to re-enter the country for 10 years, subject to appeal which can only take place once they have left.

The RFL are not making public comment until they have spoken to both Celtic Crusaders and the UKBA.

However, the feeling is that this issue is one that concerns the Crusaders, the six players and the UKBA - and that the RFL have little choice but to abide by the government agency’s judgement regarding visas.