Another IMG Farce - Widnes Vikings

RE: Another IMG Farce

sandgroper — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:23:14 +0000

I still think that a much increased WVIPs number, even at a basic £5 per month, would give a chance to enlarge the squad and show any would be investor that the town is backing them.

On the overall picture I think that the game is going downhill fast and begging clubs to tap up well heeled supporters before the next Sky deal because after that without outside funding our SL will be history.

Lets face it ask anybody south of Cheshire what SL is and they will say Women's soccer!!!

RE: Another IMG Farce

Frankg — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:24:01 +0000

I think that enough has been said about the state of Odsal, to question that score. The other was finance. Bradford showed a profit of £22,000 on a turnover of £2.1m in their 2023 Accounts.

Corrected figure. Maybe they will claim a profit of £22m in 2026

RE: Another IMG Farce

Frankg — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:34:34 +0000

You are probably right, but Bradford managed an increase of 2.96 in their score to get promotion, despite a reduction in the fandom element from 4.2 to 3.9. This increase was primarily from the finance and stadium elements.

I think that enough has been said about the state of Odsal, to question that score. The other was finance. Bradford showed a profit of £22m on a turnover of £2.1m in their 2023 Accounts. Their 2024 Accounts were submitted in August (just in time for the IMG data submission), showing a profit of £410,000. with other income of £1.4m, making total income of £1.8m for the year, compared to £22,000 in the previous year. How did they manage that? Maybe to do with getting the ground at a knockdown price in 2025?

Maybe we could learn something from the Bradford bid.

So the Club need to tell fans whether they aim to play the IMG game and potential promotion in 2026 or 2027, or just invest in the Championship squad and concentrate on improving the on-field performance in 2026. I would go for improving the squad.

RE: Another IMG Farce

sandgroper — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:05:51 +0000

The more you think about the way SL and the game is run the less likely you are to sink money into it tbh!!!!

I am sure that increasing WVIPS must be possible and with a few player signings could be achieved.

RE: Another IMG Farce

Dan1 — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:48:12 +0000

@frankg Can't they figure out the points thresholds needed for example profit, investment, large rented screen like Bradford have to go into the corner where the Sky screen used to be. A row of digital advertising boards, again rented for 8 months of the season down one side of the pitch.

Ask a sponsor to fund them to increase our points. All Bradford did was tick boxes. Odsal is no better in fact it's worse than ever with the stock cars. And they haven't won any Grand Finals. Be smart and play the system and say to a sponsor if you fund this and get us into SL we will do you a deal with future sponsorship when we are on Sky every week as a reward.

Has this idea been put to any of the existing sponsors? If you don't ask.....

RE: Another IMG Farce

Vikingfox71 — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:41:45 +0000

@frankg we would never make up enough points frank to get in next year we need about 4.5 points to make it close and with the small increment in each category it's probably 2/3 away if everything pans out

York gained 3 points but it took them 2 years

RE: Another IMG Farce

Frankg — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:37:10 +0000

Surely, we could approach one of the potential sponsors included in our recent SL bid, to help with the 2026 bid, by sponsoring a couple of key signings for 2026.

RE: Another IMG Farce

Dan1 — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:31:35 +0000

@vikingfox71 On the topic of a Commercial Manager, I actually don't think it's a full time role at a Championship club.

The director of the foundation should be tasked to raise funds for the Foundation, Tim Holmes the new general manager to raise funds for Widnes Vikings. Then you have 6 directors to help out and assist, like Andy Horabin for the business club. Then if/when we get into SL with a bigger budget/TV deal/more demand make it a full time role.

I would guess you have to bring in circa £30k a year extra every year in sponsorship just to stand still. (Pay the wages of the role)

RE: Another IMG Farce

Vikingfox71 — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:11:23 +0000

@sandgroper if we sell a 1000 season ticket we only have about 250 VIPs so still scope for more and if your a season ticket holder £5 a month for some should be attainable even in current financial crisis without the VIPs increasing I can't see how we can improve without a lottery win

RE: Another IMG Farce

sandgroper — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 18:47:48 +0000

@vikingfox71

With you 100% but I would guess that our present WVIPs are ST owners already and, like me, have been contributing for years. Many, again like me, are advancing in years and have a limited shelf life!!

When I see the quantity of beer consumed at home games, probably at extortionate prices, I can't see how the cost of a pint or two a month would hurt.

For those in unfortunate circumstances who genuinely can't afford it I sympathise, but if you can do it for your own sake!!!!

Maybe a cap for WVIP's to purchase (Harold Lynskey would have been onto it!)