Administrators at Crusaders are hopeful that a deal will be completed this week for the Super League club's former owners to resume ownership.

On Tuesday, Ian Roberts and Geoff Moss reached agreement in principle to buy back the club from the administrators.

The Rugby Football League are believed to be a major creditor of the team.

The club have been readmitted to Super League in time to take up their place as expected next season, but that is still subject to formal RFL approval.

It is understood that the Wrexham-based team will emerge from administration with a new name - possibly Welsh Crusaders - and will almost certainly receive a points deduction.

Joint administrator Simon Weir said a draft sale agreement had been sent to Roberts and Moss on Tuesday afternoon.

"If we can agree terms with them, then we can complete the transfer in a day or two," said Weir. "Hopefully we can get it done and dusted this week."

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said on Tuesday that all parties had "reached agreement on all matters of substance".

The Welsh club endured a dismal first season in Super League as Celtic Crusaders in 2009, winning just three matches to finish bottom, while having six players deported over a breach of visa regulations.

But, despite moving to Wrexham from Bridgend a year ago due to financial problems, they bounced back superbly under Brian Noble to reach the Super League play-offs.

Noble stepped down in early November, with his assistant from last season - Wales head coach Harris - taking over the reins.

The circumstances now exist for the club to flourish and succeed under Ian and Geoff's ownership Nigel Wood

The club's future was then plunged into doubt when they went into administration with debts thought to amount to around £1.25m.

Most of the Crusaders' debts were inherited from their time in south Wales and talks are thought to have centred on the amount of debt that the current club was prepared to take on.

"Both Ian and Geoff understand and actually agree with the need to deal properly with certain liabilities and, to their credit, have made provision to do so," added RFL chief Wood.

"The potential for rugby league in north Wales is self-evident and the circumstances now exist for the club to flourish and succeed under Ian and Geoff's ownership.

"With the Welsh national side qualifying for the 2011 Four Nations, and the South Wales Scorpions achieving success with a virtually fully home-grown squad these are exciting times for rugby league in Wales.

"The challenge for Crusaders now is to build on a very encouraging first season."

Roberts, who will remain as chairman of the new club, added: "We were always committed to the club and to the future of rugby league in north Wales, but we did need some clarification on some of the obligations facing the club going forward as a condition on re-entry.

"The meeting was very productive. We are excited about the potential of Super League in north Wales and our business plan will enable us to go forward with renewed enthusiasm."

A south Wales-based consortium had also expressed an interest in taking over the club but have not had any formal talks.

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