BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Championship side North Wales Crusaders have responded strongly and refuted a legal claim made by the liquidator of the former club, asking for payment for the use of the team name, branding and license.
On November 10, North Wales received a letter from NTF Corporate Solutions, the liquidator appointed to handle the company North Wales Crusaders Limited, which was run by Arun Watkins of Egg Chaser. Arun and father Bobby ran the Crusaders into insolvency in May and have faced allegations of major financial impropriety.
Now the liquidator is seeking money for the use of the North Wales Crusaders name and brand, after a new group was handed a license by the RFL to run the club in 2027.
NTF Corporate Solutions’ letter to the new group, led by chairman Jamie Elkaleh, reads: “I am advised by the directors of the Company your are using the goodwill, trading identity, league registration, team name, branding and associated reputation of the former professional rugby club previously operate by the Company.
“Your continued use of the team name, club identity and associated goodwill without agreement, license or purchase from the liquidator constitutes an unauthorised use of assets that may belong to the insolvent estate.
“Accordingly, we require that within 14 days of the date of this letter you:
1. Confirm the legal basis upon which you claim entitlement to use the team name, branding and goodwill.
2. Provide full details of any agreement, assignment, license or consent relied upon.
3. Account for all revenues generated through the use of the team identity, including sponsorship, ticket sales, merchandise sales and league-related income.
4. Make payment of a reasonable license fee or such other sum as may be agreed in respect of your use of these assets.
5. Confirm whether you are prepared to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of the relevant rights and goodwill from the insolvent estate.”
However, the Crusaders deny this is the case and insist they will not be intimidated.
“We entirely refute this claim,” the club said in a statement.
“We are a new company, with a new logo, new social media channels and a new website.
“Let’s be clear: everything was taken or sold. Even the defibrillator. A replacement had to be funded through fundraising.
“We believe this is a last-ditch attempt by Bobby and Arun Watkins to avoid being held accountable. We will not be distracted or intimidated by it.”
rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands there is still players and former staff of the club owed money by the Watkins, along with customers of their merchandise business Egg Chaser Stash Ltd
According to Companies House, Arun Watkins is the director of three companies – North Wales Crusaders Limited, Egg Chaser Stash Ltd and Kratos Sport International Limited. The first is being liquidated, the second faced a compulsory strike-off action earlier this year and the third was dissolved last month.
