Season ticket holder of almost 30 years, just going out of habit now, absolute zero enjoyment it’s more like a chore. Unless a coaching announcement is made before the next game I think that’s me done for the season and now on earth are the club going to persuade people to sign up for next season or even the die hards are bored stiff? Utter dross.
This is the big systemic problem the club faces now.
Go with 2 others, have done for 23 years, family I go with gone for longer, we all said today we had zero enjoyment or positivity after today. We will be there v York, but it feels like its because its a ritual rather than for a sense of purpose or a sense that it is enjoyable.
I feel this is a retrievable situation, but I also feel there is a latent arrogance within the club (and other clubs) that diehards like most of us will turn up whatever and that questioning the high and mighty at the club doesn't make you a proper supporter.
Bought a season ticket this year, dont buy one every season but only missed a handful of home games over the past 5 years. If it wasnt for the fact I have bought one this year I wouldnt go again this season.
To get rid of a coach part way through the season and not to have a replacement already 4 or 5 weeks later is criminal.
Didn’t buy season ticket this year for first time in years (mainly due to not sure Covid would effect fixtures again) but I can quite honestly say I’m glad I didn’t.
I have been most home games but I tell you what forking out £22 (sometimes £44 if my son decides to join me) plus food and drink for that absolute dross is now a luxury I would rather not afford.
Like others have said I found myself just not watching yesterday, I spent most of it on my phone, and I’m not even getting angry or frustrated like I used to anymore (esp. in the final few years of SL!) it’s just a chore. And like a chore I think I will give it a miss.
There's no easy solution as we’ve got the players signed on and possibly don’t have the money for new team entirely! A fookin coach would be handy soon though I think!
But my point is that if the board/CEO/players don’t show enough passion and competence (and the players are getting paid to do so) I’m afraid more people will drift away from the club and do something else. Don’t think relegation is a threat this year but there’s no chance of play offs and the rot for next season may set in.
Sad times.
The big problem is that fans have already had to suffer relegation, then admin and then COVID. So they're clinging on to people as it is, and the current situation could be the final nail in the coffin for some fans' commitment.
The big problem is that fans have already had to suffer relegation, then admin and then COVID. So they're clinging on to people as it is, and the current situation could be the final nail in the coffin for some fans' commitment.
The big problem is the game in general is dying and, for Widnes, we have been run poorly for years.
The opinions put forward on here about people just going out of habit are very telling. We don’t play the game well, the club is poorly run and there is no entertainment or enjoyment. Johnnyboy’s comment about the absence of frustration or anger, which has been replaced by apathy is bang on.
I started watching Widnes in the early 60’s and had attended regularly up until about 4 or 5 years ago, when I started to find the drive from Hampshire up to Widnes and back wasn’t worth the effort in terms of enjoying the match. Basically since the start of Covid I’ve only been to about half a dozen or so live games and to be honest, as it stands, I don’t see anything to entice me back.
The biggest issue that I have is that we have had nothing to play for by halfway through the season over the past 5 or 6 seasons.
The last 2 in super league were abysmal, then we had the admin season, then covid (not the clubs fault but we hadn’t started the season brilliantly), last season was over before the fans were allowed back into the ground due to our poor start and then we have this season.
When we were relegated from super league I though that we would at least compete towards the top of the league and we can’t even do that.
Some fans will never criticise the club and that’s there option but I feel that the vast majority of season ticket holder feel the same way as there is very little enjoyment going to the games at the moment.
As already stated, season over again at halfway stage, I think the powers that be should look at a later season competition to give some incentive for the rest of the season - ko cup possibly
in the heyday there were 4-5 trophies to play for starting at different times through the season
but it would not involve SL clubs as they are not bothered about anything else but SL
back to Widnes though, I shall probably renew my 2 ST again, awaiting for the restructure announcement, feel a bit for London as if they go down they will be cast away
DD I read an article today that suggests the backers/management company we have now (RFL) are favouring franchises and mentioning Dublin, Edinburgh, etc. Sounds like SL merger talk all over again… So unless we get an attractive bid together (crowds, results, revenue?) I think us and a few ‘big name clubs’ could be permanently cut adrift.
DD I read an article today that suggests the backers/management company we have now (RFL) are favouring franchises and mentioning Dublin, Edinburgh, etc. Sounds like SL merger talk all over again… So unless we get an attractive bid together (crowds, results, revenue?) I think us and a few ‘big name clubs’ could be permanently cut adrift.
That”ll sounds very much like either an IMG idea or an idea suggested to IMG to get them on board.
it would be a really good outcome if, in five years, an IMG backed world game existed that was fully professional and had regional teams (I might even watch / support Lancashire) and a semi-professional game that enabled traditional clubs to just play the game for the love of it. I think I’d even be moved to start attending regularly again.
