YORK City Knights are unlikely to get a Championship reprieve if they finish in the two relegation places, The Press now understands.

Uncertainty remains over the structure of the Championships next season, with Toulouse returning to French competition, Widnes being given a Super League licence and doubt about the future of Wrexham-based Crusaders, who are coming out of the top tier.

It is still not known whether two, one or even no clubs would be relegated to Championship One as part of any restructuring of the Championships.

However, the Welsh outfit have announced that, rather than fold, they are to apply for a place in the Championship with work starting on a detailed business plan.

And The Press understands that, if this plan is approved by Rugby Football League chiefs, then Crusaders will effectively be a straight swap for Widnes in domestic rugby league’s second tier and the two up two down system of promotion and relegation with Championship One will stand.

The Knights currently occupy the second relegation spot, on points-difference behind Hunslet and one point above Dewsbury, with one game to go.

As revealed by The Press this week, the RFL were “hopeful” of annoucing the make-up of the 2012 Championships before the last round of 2011 fixtures on September 4 – although this remains in question as Crusaders have yet to submit their application and any decision on the relegation issues almost certainly depends on this club’s future.

An RFL spokesman said: “A place in the Championship is open to any Super League club that does not secure a Super League licence.

“We’ve been in dialogue with Crusaders since the Super League licences were announced about their entry in the Championship and those talks are ongoing.”

The RFL argue that since Crusaders joined Super League three years ago, the number of junior rugby league teams in Wales has risen from 12 to 53, with 7,000 youngsters now active participants – showing that rugby league expansion was working.

There is argument, however, that if Crusaders do continue, effectively as a new club replacing the Super League franchise, they should be placed in the lowest tier.

It is claimed the young players coming through their system would then have a better chance of progressing – they would be more competitive in Championship One than the Championship. Otherwise Crusaders might just sign Widnes’ cast-offs to stand a chance in the Championship – effectively meaning few, if any, Welsh lads play in the team, thereby negating the idea of rugby league expansion.

It is not known whether Crusaders would accept a place in Championship One.

Meanwhile, rumours Championship One club South Wales Scorpions are to merge with the new Crusaders are so far unsubstantiated. The Scor-pions started in Bridgend in 2010 after Crusaders moved from south to north Wales.

A merger, again, could affect the relegation issues.