Good to see the club beginning and academy , 16-18 year olds to begin , hopefully can develop into something akin to what we once had when we competed with the SL clubs
Fantastic news all we need now is a few more investors or someone with a big wad of money to push us to the next level. Results on the field will bring more fans and revenue to compete in the top 4 regularly. I don't think we are that far away now just need a few acquisitions of quality.
Great news!
On another side related to point, I am curios to know to what extent we pursue amateur players from outside and inside?
So much quality who in the game, players who developed late and missed opportunities to go professionally.
I’d suggest thats one of the reasons why Yorkshire has more of a playing pool, they sign amateur passed the ages of 18, would like to see us explore this more.
This not only ticks a box for IMG grading but also gives lads further opportunities to play rugby league in the community. I’m sure most of these lads play or played rugby beforehand and like mentioned above didn’t get picked up by other clubs like wire/saints. It keeps them engaged with the sport and hopefully we find a diamond in the rough
It's a bit of a sickener when you see the likes of harry smith at Wigan , hopefully lads will see Widnes as a viable alternative I'm the near future
@tosh It will take time and require the club to have the cash to support the academy and the first team properly.
At the end of the day it all comes down to cash in the club. The big guns have regular 'donations' to keep them afloat when they slip into the red, we look at our part filled stands. But at least it is a move forward and puts the pathway down!!!!
@tosh It will take time and require the club to have the cash to support the academy and the first team properly.
At the end of the day it all comes down to cash in the club. The big guns have regular 'donations' to keep them afloat when they slip into the red, we look at our part filled stands. But at least it is a move forward and puts the pathway down!!!!
In relation to IMG and the grading for financial stability, how can any Club be viable in the longer term if it is operating at a substantial loss year on year and reliant on substantial "charitable donations" or loans from an individual, to bail it out each year?
What will happen if and when these "donations" stop or are reduced and there is no other "donor" waiting in the wings; and even more so if the Sky money is further reduced or dries up? That is why SL Clubs will never agree to sharing the Sky money on a more equitable basis with the Championship and League 1 Clubs.
I totally agree that we should have an Academy and closer links to schools and the amateur game to develop local talent, but in our present position the top quality players will either go straight to SL Clubs or be poached from the Academy.
I am not sure how the IMG grading system is going to work beyond next season but, in a 12 or possibly 14 SL, is there any guarantee of any Club getting into SL, if promotion is purely based on the grading score? In any event, as others have mentioned, it is likely that a licensing system will be introduced with no relegation from SL.
In my view, any chance to grow the game, will require a strong Championship league with promotion to and relegation from SL and a fairer distribution of Sky money to all Clubs.
@sunny Those "PIGS" have already got their snouts in the trough and unlikely to share out the contents.
I'm not sure that there's extra points for having an academy under the IMG points system? Can Flash verify this?
It can only be a good thing.
It's a bit of a sickener when you see the likes of harry smith at Wigan , hopefully lads will see Widnes as a viable alternative I'm the near future
Widnes won't be a viable alternative unless they're full time. You can't begrudge any Widnes lad for wanting to play rugby league for a living, rather than playing part-time for Widnes.
And as we've seen, even when Widnes are full time, players will naturally go to the bigger clubs where they've got better chance to win silverware, win international honours, catch the attention of the NRL, earn more money etc.
Our only hope at the moment is that this new set up at least produces players good enough to represent Widnes in Championship.
And being a team that everyone expects to be in the play-offs is the start of that. At least then any decent championship player is in our sights.
@jdgsport I agree with you but this is nothing new. Remember both Vince Karalius & Doug Laughton both signed for Saints first & the latter moved to Wigan before returning home. Also we lost internationals Gregory, Lydon & Offiah to bigger club Wigan. This is not an entirely new thing. Players will always go to where they think they will have a better chance of success & this applies across all three tiers.
Genuine question, Is it nothing more than a college PE rugby team ticking our IMG box with some kick back their way, Stadium use, Physio, Gym etc. I can't see a first team opportunity for any Cronton student. Huge jump from college to 1st team.
Sooner have it than not don't get me wrong.