Andy Horabin said at last Thursday meeting that he was willing to go back on the board and also propose someone else he knew with money to invest, and would have a meeting with Stuart the following day, but since then , there’s just been silence.
I realise the present board would have to vote on it, but I would have thought they would have met by now, and the ones unable to make the board meeting could take part via Zoom.
It was also mentioned quite a few times during the meeting that it was being videoed and would be put on you tube the following day, but nothing seems to have happened with that also.
Perhaps with us having no matches for 3 weeks, everyone has gone on holiday 🙄
I am at a loss to understand what has dampened the confidence of the Board, who clearly thought that we were ready for SL last year, with investment in place. What has changed now to dampen that confidence, other than the lack of any decision-making by the RFL
It is obvious that London will be promoted to SL in 2027. This was never in doubt, particularly when the IMG gradings were changed to benefit London. In fact, as far as I can see, the only decision made by RFL on the SL structure is that SL positions in 2027 will be based on amended IMG gradings, that guaranteed London's promotion.
The Championship has been a farce this year, with little or no planning in the fixtures. With London guaranteed promotion, is there really any point in the play-offs? We could win it and get nothing. The same with the 1895 Cup. Is there any prize money - maybe £18.95? When will the RFL be addressing the structure of the league and fixtures for 2027, to avoid this farce continuing?
Have the RFL given any thought to increase in the number of SL Clubs, as intimated by Beaumont last year? Have they considered the question of potentially two leagues, with promotion and relegation, based on performance on the pitch?
Whilst I have no confidence whatsoever in those running the game, but if Widnes RFLC and other Clubs with ambition and a decent fanbase, with potential to increase this, are not just to disappear or become a SL feeder team and lose their identity, they have to invest and press the RFL to urgently address the future structure of the game.
I know it’s unlikely we’d get a national newspaper reporter to have a Q and A with Nigel, Bradford Woods, but couldn’t a journalist from one of the RL papers or websites do one, and ask him these sort of questions, that everyone apart from the top clubs would like an answer to?
@frankg re the SL application of last year, wasn't it the case that investment was there but it was dependent on the SL application succeeding? No-one is going to throw significant investment at the Championship unless they're a fan.
The NRL investment (takeover) will include a condition that London are part of SL, no doubt. And, although the SL are pretending they're weighing up the option, if they don't take the NRL investment, the SL will flounder.
We discussed on another thread, I think the Championship is facing a managed decline; the RFL/SL don't want it anymore, it's a nuisance to them. The feeder teams idea they can cope with, lower league teams fighting for top-table scraps, they don't want.
Would like to think investment and more board members could be found. I did not attend the meeting but sounded as though AH and others may be interested in joining and investing which must be positive. Is the TH thing done and dusted is there no scope of him to stay. Think he has done a great job
@gpo1971 I agree on all points on the investment and the managed decline.
My point is that the RFL seem incapable of making any decision on the future of the game. I would hope that Widnes and other Clubs with ambition to get into SL in the foreseeable future, should be demanding clarity as to future promotion prospects to SL.
I presume this year's IMG grading has been fixed to favour London and there is no chance of us overtaking London. So we are looking towards 2028. We should be demanding answers from the RFL about the future structure of the game and any promotion prospects in 2028 and beyond. Without this clarity, it is impossible for the Club and any potential investors to make any plans.
With the Championship likely to become the SL reserves league, there will be no chance of promotion for winning that league in the future. Do the RFL have a Plan B (or even any Plan A in truth!!!) if the NRL don't bail them out and/or Sky pulls the plug on the tv deal?
To be honest, if that is where the game is heading, we should shut the Club down immediately and build affordable housing on Naughton Park; and not watch the once proud Club be slowly strangled at the hands of those incompetents running the game.
I would certainly not associate the word "managed" with anything that the RFL is running - other than perhaps the managed promotion of Bradford to SL this year; and the mismanaged decline of rugby league in this country outside SL. Huddersfeld will be the next to go under if they are relegated and at some stage those individuals currently bailing out the SL Clubs every year, will walk away.
If the board have no ambition they need to step aside and let others in. We are going nowhere so if a SL push fails then we will be going nowhere. All this crunchie about stability doesn't wash with the fans anymore. Attendance will carry on decreasing until the board can put in the same effort as the attending fans. It will be the investors money lost not theirs. How many year plan next 10, 15 ?. When a team fails you clear out the dead wood maybe it's the boards turn now.
If the board have no ambition they need to step aside and let others in. We are going nowhere so if a SL push fails then we will be going nowhere. All this crunchie about stability doesn't wash with the fans anymore. Attendance will carry on decreasing until the board can put in the same effort as the attending fans. It will be the investors money lost not theirs. How many year plan next 10, 15 ?. When a team fails you clear out the dead wood maybe it's the boards turn now.
My thoughts too if someone is available who wants us at the next level, then it needs new owners. I am thankful of the job the board have done, but I only see fans dropping off unless aiming to win this league. What is the point of survival it is not fun because fans want competition and success. To be honest I am going and supporting the club just in case of the goal posts changed, and it is not the fault of the club how the RFL run things with no hope. But pulling out and giving up it is what the RFL want mate, so don't give in until the fat lady sings. 😂👍 If RFL want this to happen is there a chance of finding another TV deal with us, Oldham, Halifax and the unwanted? 😂
I rather pull away if not wanted and get our own competition with cups involved and days out to Blackpool in a final.
@prisoner I don't believe that it is so much about the Club lacking ambition. It is more about the lack of direction and certainty from the RFL.
If the RFL announced that the IMG gradings will be continued to determine the SL Clubs in 2028, then we could seek an investor (or get the support of Nigel) to invest in improving our grading, so we had a fighting chance of promotion. Similarly, if the number of SL Clubs was to be increased to 16 in 2028 and the Club winning the Championship Play-off in 2027 was guaranteed a place, we could seek investment to improve the squad to a standard capable of being the best in the Championship in 2028.
If the RFL decide to maintain the number of SL Clubs at 14 and there will be no promotion or relegation, what is the point of investing in a potential SL team, when the door to SL is closed. If the RFL decide that the Championship will consist mainly of SL feeder Clubs, there will definitely be no promotion/relegation. Does the Club and more importantly the dwindling army of fans, really want to be a feeder club for Warrington or playing against against SL reserve teams every week? I think not.
Widnes and those Championship teams with ambition to get back into the top league, should be demanding answers from the RFL NOW. We cannot just hang around waiting for the RFL to make up their minds whilst dying the slow death of uncertainty. It is about time for the RFL to be honest with Clubs and fans, for a change.
If the RFL really believes that the future of the game is in Las Vegas and not Widnes, Halifax, Oldham, Huddersfield, Featherstone and maybe even Leigh and Castleford, then just be honest about it.
Yet the attendances are up on 2025 according to Rolty 🫠
I would suggest that an investment into the Championship the way it is at the moment would be a poor use of money, and an investment in Super League would be worse. The Australians aren't going to fix the issues in the British game, if RL doesn't immediately improve with their money in, they will walk away in quick fashion. Abdo is the main drive for British inclusion in Australia and he has just left.
if it were my money, I would hold tight and check the appetite for a break away, as others have said, the RFL are not manging the game. They think they are at the wheel steering the game forward, when actually they are on the back seat with a toy wheel, shouting "Are we there yet?".
Whilst the game is run the way it is, investment won't make any difference.