Really, really bad news this
Another nail in the coffin.Academy funding was reduced by 43 percent due to administration.The Rule legacy continues.I am starting to wonder now just what is the point of Widnes Vikings ? No Academy,no youngsters being brought through,fewer amateur teams in the town,rented stadium,3000 fans,surrounded by Warrington,St Helens and Wigan,the club treading water in the second division with little prospect of Super League.
Dreadful news.
What sets us apart from the likes of Dewsbury, Batley, Whitehaven now?
We’re a run of the mill championship club for the forceable now.
Dreadful news.
What sets us apart from the likes of Dewsbury, Batley, Whitehaven now?
We’re a run of the mill championship club for the foreseeable now.
Our loyal hardcore support is all that separates us and is all that has done for a while now. Its going to be hard for a long time to come so we have to get used to it and crack on. I heard from a good source we are not even matching the likes of Swinton on the wage front so money appears to be an issue, our admin will no doubt know that as he has his sources.
The only way we will ever get back in Super league is if Sky pull the plug and the likes of Salford and Catalan drop out, or we get a benefactor, or a group of benefactors come in as our board are not going to be able to get us there, and that's is not a criticism of them as I am sure they are doing their best in a town that as a whole does not back the club. COYV.
Great pity, but forseeable. If we want a strong first team we nee all our financial resources to be on hand. We may still be unsuccessful but we have to give ourselves the best chance.
We have produced and developed some excellent talent, but how many are here to dig us out of the hole?
From the club statement we would have to staff up etc to get approval at the end of 2021, so better to leave now. When we hit the Rule buffers the RFL withdrew funds and that certainly didnt help the cause.
From the news today on the impact injuries front it looks likely that rugby of either code will become tick and pass in schools at any rate, so we could be seeing the game dying as a youth sport too.
How many Championship clubs run any academy teams these days? We have proved that we can do it and maybe if we make it to SL in the future we can restart. Not sure that the RFL/SL are that bothered, preferring to look further afield?
After 2021, only SL clubs will be granted licences to run Academies. Is it still a requirement for SL clubs to run Academies?
No Reserve games, no Academies and reduced participation in schools. How healthy is the amateur game these days? Just where does the future player pool come from? I suppose we can always rely on over hyped and over paid Australians at the end of their NRL career, to fill the numbers.
Maybe we are heading for SL clubs maintaining feeder clubs, which will see the end of RL in many areas.
Another problem that I didn’t foresee! I expect Widnes will continue to play the great game and provide good entertainment in front of probably 3,000 or so fans, but the academy was highly regarded by most people and will be missed.
However, we mustn’t blame the dire financial mess on our current board, all this stems from the appalling (miss) management of our club by Rule and Co.
Wise decision by the club. If there's not enough funds in the kitty, then they have to cut their cloth accordingly.
How many top players has the WV Academy actually created? Potential of Brand & Norman in SL, but remain unproven as of yet.
The ones we have had in recent times have been bang average, The NHS Twins are a classic example.
The Club will do what most other lower league clubs do, and get their players on loan from the SL squads.
Paulie xx
If the Academies are to be SL only the game will die, simple as that. As we, and others, state often the game as a sport, needs as much encouragement as the RFL/SL can give it or they will become its executioners. Sadly their noses are jammed in the trough.
If the game in schools is gutted of all impact then we may as well watch tiddlywinks. There won't be enough youngsters coming through to need academies.
Wise decision by the club. If there’s not enough funds in the kitty, then they have to cut their cloth accordingly. How many top players has the WV Academy actually created? Potential of Brand & Norman in SL, but remain unproven as of yet. The ones we have had in recent times have been bang average, The NHS Twins are a classic example. The Club will do what most other lower league clubs do, and get their players on loan from the SL squads. Paulie xx
Didnt someone post the other month that there’s just under 20 Widnes lads playing in SL? And about 50 in the top 3 tiers of RL over here.
That’s not bad for a town our size.
Other clubs would love that output from their academy.
Disappointing, not least because it seems others have forced our hand with a significant funding cut and talk about what would be required to keep a license.
It is even more important now that the first-team perform, otherwise what are we other than on the road to Halifax Mark II or worse?
Rule et al still damaging the club nearly 2 years on, but I don't have a great deal of confidence in his successor either to be honest.
This has to be the correct decision from a financial point of view.
We need to focus all our resources on fielding a competitive first team squad. We need to start the season well playing decent rugby to get people to return
We need to up our game commercially. promoting the match day experience and advertise matches in advance.
Announcing season ticket arrangements would give some indication as to how many guaranteed supporters We can expect.
We all want to see a successful Widnes team who play attractive rugby, but we also want a Widnes team with a sustainable future.
Also, on the constant talk of sustainability, I just feel it can be used as a word that gets dragged out which no-one actually can disagree with, but can mask a fall into being a nothing club.
No-one wants us to go into admin or bust.
But at the same time, I have absolutely no desire to watch a feeder team or a team struggling forever in the lower leagues.
We may as well approach Warrington for a merger now. We will have a small squad with no reserves or academy to step in so will have to loan their youngsters and fringe players.
What a sad sad day for Widnes RLFC, young lads will now sign for Saints, Wigan and Warrington. The likes of your Richie Mylers, Danny Craven, Matt Whitley, Keenan Brand, Jack Owens and Danny Walker. We have no pathway for them to sign on after junior level now, so even if they wanted to, they can't sign for Widnes anymore.
Its a tough situation, but we have gone part time, declined the invitation to even apply for SL and have now scrapped the academy. Is it time to send some communication to season ticket holders with the clubs vision and strategy moving forward?
So how do young lads aged 15 and 16 go about their dream of signing for Widnes ?