Brian Noble has been linked with Bradford Bulls and rugby union teams

Crusaders boss Brian Noble has called for the club's backers to "invest in the joint" and pleaded with the game's rulers for guidance on their future.

Noble, who has recently been linked with roles at Bradford Bulls and in rugby union, is guiding their bid for a place in the Super League play-offs.

But he also hopes the Crusaders can enjoy long-term success.

He said: "The Crusaders have fabulous potential, but we need to realise that potential and invest in the joint."

Speculation surrounds head coach Noble's own future beyond this season - including a possible switch to rugby union - and he told BBC Sport Wales: "You never say never, but the present is pretty much fixed for me.

It [Crusaders] needs to help with the Rugby League in direction, it needs the help of where do we go from here, how ambitious are we? Brian Noble

"Plenty of people have done that kind of thing and again and it's very flattering to be asked that question.

"But I firmly believe that there are lots of coaches that can cross codes, but whether it's for me is a question to be answered down the track, I suppose."

Noble saw his Wrexham-based side twice come from behind to beat Castleford 30-24 at Neath's Gnoll ground on Sunday.

He says that and other recent performances augur well for the remaining five regular league fixtures that will determine whether the Crusaders make the play-offs in their second Super League season.

But while on-field affairs have a positive outlook, Noble says the club's longer-term future also needs to be addressed.

Asked by BBC Sport Wales about the Crusaders' future, Noble said: "The transition from south Wales to north Wales has been an amazing achievement in such a short period of time and the club going forward needs the help of the Rugby [Football] League.

"I'm not talking financially, but it needs to help with the Rugby League in direction, it needs the help of where do we go from here, how ambitious are we?

"And those are questions that would be answered by the right people. The right people are the good people that are running the joint up in Wrexham now."

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Original backer Leighton Samuel accepted a bid by a consortium led by Wrexham FC chairman Geoff Moss to take over the franchise.

That meant the the Crusaders moving from the Brewery Field in Bridgend to the Racecourse for the start of this season.

Noble believes there is huge potential for the sport in Wales and hopes the Crusaders go from strength to strength.

He added: "I've said many a time that rugby league in Wales is very important to the game.

"I think there's bags and bags of players to furnish both games and I'm a big believer that some people are more talented to play one sport than the other - they are very different in a lot of respects.

"But again it's not an us against them situation providing another spectator sport for Wales."

The Crusaders face Salford on Sunday at the Racecourse.

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