Shock as Duggan & Quinn set to be released
Duggan to go
By Chris O'Brien
July 8 2009
The Celtic Crusaders have made the shock announcement that long-serving duo Tony Duggan and Damian Quinn will leave the club at the end of the season. Chairman Leighton Samuel says the move comes as Cru look to "shake things up".
Full-back Duggan and stand-off Quinn see their contracts expire at the end of the campaign and the Saders will not offer them new deals.
Both players are popular with the club's supporters and have been key members of John Dixon's squad since the club's inception four years ago.
However, as the Saders struggle to adapt to life in the Super League, it has been decided that the squad needs a major revamp and with that comes the release of two long-serving players.
Fans had high hopes for Duggan at Super League level after his free-scoring exploits at National League level. However, a string of injuries have meant that Duggan has made only five elite division appearances this season, scoring three tries in the process.
'The Mighty' Quinn, by contrast, has made nineteen appearances and chipped in with 26 points for the Saders this term.
Speculation suggests that both players will seek a new contract with a French club next year. Both players leave with our best wishes for the future.
The news comes amid a time of uncertainty for the Crusaders. Amid reports of financial instability, with a move to Newport in the offing and the possibility of games being played in Wrexham, fans will be in an uncertain mood ahead of this weekend's crunch league encounter with old rivals Salford.
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I'll always support Crusaders and I realise that things change, but the guys will be missed. Even if they're on their way out, I hope they feel a sense of pride for their part in creating a Superleague team from scratch.
I'm certainly proud of them.
What I find slightly worrying however is that this announcement came, so we are told, from L Samuel. This is the first time I have seen him quoted regarding team matters and hope it isn't the start of some form of crisis management.
On the field we need some new ideas.
