THE Rugby Football League have finally confirmed two clubs will be relegated from the Co-operative Championship this season – but only if Crusaders successfully apply for a place in the league.

This means the definitive relegation issues concerning York City Knights are unlikely to be known even after Sunday’s final round of regular season matches – the do-or-die day of destiny for Dave Woods’ men.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson believes it would be best if Crusaders – who withdrew their Super League franchise application on the eve of the licence announcement in July – started out again in Championship One next year should they indeed continue, meaning only one club would be relegated from the Championship, but this eventuality has seemingly been ruled out.

RFL chiefs have given the Wrexham-based rugby league expansion club until close of business on Friday to submit their proposed application to join domestic rugby league’s second tier in 2012. A decision on the application would be made the following week.

If Crusaders fail to meet this deadline or if the application is rejected, then only one team will be relegated from the Championship, with two coming up from Championship One. If they succeed, then two will go down as originally planned.

As things stand, York are in the second relegation spot, one point above Dewsbury and behind Hunslet on points-difference. Dewsbury finish their season against high-flying Leigh in a Sky Sports-televised match tomorrow night, while the Knights go to Sheffield on Sunday at the same time as Hunslet host Halifax.

Widnes have won a Super League licence and the RFL have now confirmed that Toulouse, as widely known, will return to French rugby league next term, so the Championship will have ten teams next year.

Championship One will have either ten or nine, depending on the knock-on effects of Crusaders’ application. Toulouse, who are almost certain to finish 11th and bottom of the Championship, will still play in the Northern Rail Cup and Challenge Cup, however.

Wilson said: “At least they (the RFL) have now given Crusaders a deadline for Friday. It doesn’t look like we’ll know what’s happening with them by the time we play on Sunday, which is disappointing, although we should know the following week.

“We’ll have to wait and see. All we can do is win our last game and see what happens.”

As for Crusaders’ new start, Wilson said: “I think it would be best for them to go in Championship One. It gives them an opportunity to build from the bottom rather than get put into a competition they’re maybe not ready for.

“It’s all going to happen very quickly and to get a side together which will be competitive on a tight budget would be unrealistic.

“In Championship One, they’d get more time and they could give some of the young Welsh lads more of an opportunity. The Championship might not be appropriate for those lads coming through, and the club might instead just get players cast off by other North West clubs – which doesn’t really do much for expanding the game.”

Asked if he thought Crusaders could make ends meet in the Championship after failing in Super League, Wilson said: “I haven’t seen their business plan so I can’t comment on that.

“If the crowds they get are half of what they get in Super League then they would be fine for the Championship. But it’s not just about attendances. There are a lot of things they need to get in place and if they do that then good luck to them.”

An RFL statement said: “Should Crusaders be accepted into the Championship as the displaced Super League club, two clubs will be relegated from the Championship – the clubs which finish ninth and tenth – and two clubs, Championship One champions Swinton and the play-off final winners, will be promoted.

“Should Crusaders not be accepted, one club – the club which finishes tenth in the Championship – will be relegated and two clubs will be promoted.

“In the absence of a second Welsh club, Championship One will run as a nine-team competition in 2012.

“Crusaders have been given until 5pm on Friday, September 2, to submit their application to join the Championship in 2012 to enable the RFL board of directors to finalise the competition structure prior to the commencement of the play-offs next week.”