The simple fact is that the team we all support are an utter shambles. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask questions about all things WV. The honeymoon period and the we saved our club hysteria has gone. The club say there’s money for players, well bloody buy some, because what we’ve seen so far this year is beyond a joke. The coach looks a beaten man, play the after match interviews from the past 2 weeks and it’s a carbon copy. The levels of fitness shown by the players is utterly unacceptable. It’s not a pop at you by the way Flash, but the fans DO deserve to know what’s going on because don’t VIQI own 11% of the club? At the moment, there is absolutely nothing to be positive about.
Not doubting that for a second. Just think if we can have some genuine questions rather than juvenile pops at the CEO or me, then maybe they can be asked? Where have the club said there is no money for players? Completely agree about the levels of fitness. That, in my view, is down to the players not adapting to the requirements of part-time rugby and having to keep themselves fit outside the controls of the club. Do the fans own 11% of the club? I’ve never been quite sure, though I do believe “on behalf of VIQI” is a signatory. Problem is, if this is always the same person, how do fans have their say in the boardroom exactly? When you say the fans need to know what’s going on, what do you want to know? Genuinely. Not being facetious. We’ve had some really bad losses. No shying away from that. But that doesn’t mean that the club isn’t being run prudently and sustainably. They’ve taken over in 2019, paid off a load of debt, then had COVID two years running. Even taking in to account the donated ST monies, that will have largely simply covered player wages – because even with the support of furlough last year, that hasn’t been possible since the return to training at start of 2021 and with zero other income coming in. If the club went out and spent a shed load of money and we went bust in six months, where does that leave us? I repeat again I’ve not heard anyone say that there’s no money for players – I do think there is a issue in identifying and finding players to play part-time this side of the Pennines.
Why do you keep trying to spin any questioning of the CEO as personal pops? I am not suggesting anything underhand is going on, I am not questioning the finances of the club. I’m not even questioning the playing roster – I for one did not expect us to be challenging for league leaders and/or promotion. Its basic competence I am questioning and the rugby advice provided by the CEO. His track record since taking over is demonstrably poor. The coach is not competent and should never have been given the job – who thought he had the ability to be in charge of this once great club and on what basis? Are you questioning this? You have the platform to do it. Do your fellow supporters a favour and start asking the tough questions, rather than wait until the horse has bolted like you did with Rule and co. The supporters do own 11% of the club via VIQI as stated by ACape – so your line about not being entitled to know what is going on is misleading. You’ve always had a bee in you bonnet about VIQI since before the collapse, are you chasing this up? Why is there radio silence on what is going on? Are the shareholders not entitled to know why Sheens left? I would imagine the other shareholders with the same percentage holding know why, yet you are not pursuing it.
OK, so if the fans do own 11%, why is up to me to ask the question? Surely you can do that yourself. Have you contacted VIQI? Have you contacted the club? Funny how it’s I’ve “got a bee in my bonnet” when querying something that doesn’t suit your agenda. I think the questions I (and others) asked of VIQI at the time were fair, and I had a conversation with Jason about it in person. I would still rather that the VIQI “board” was elected, as per the supporters trust model, but things are far more transparent with it now than previous. The coach has had SIX games in charge with a squad he inherited. I don’t think he deserves to have his coaching prospects completely written off. Likewise, I’m sure the board had plenty of say over what coach was appointed and it wasn’t just the CEO. Are you saying that the CEO should be sacked because you think he appointed an iffy coach? Or because Sheens left? Sheens was an employee of the club. He resigned due to personal reasons. I’ve asked the club, I’ve asked Sheens. Neither wish to reveal in the public domain, and I think that is a personal situation that ought to be respected.
Do you not run love rugby league and this Widnes site/forum Flash? Is the answer not obvious? You are the journalist and also a Widnes supporter like the rest of us. You are in a position where you can ask this sort of thing. For reasons I don't fully understand, you seem unwilling to rock the boat by asking the things that need asking.
Yes the coach has only had six games, you could argue people are questioning him too early and he will turn it around. Given he has no coaching track record to speak of and has brought the team into the season looking unfit, bereft of basic skills and looking completely disinterested - I'd argue its not too early to be asking questions.
On the CEO, I believe he is incompetent and his track record supports this view. He was the one pushing to retain the academy after we all "saved" the club - a James Rule esque waste of money and frankly disgraceful given the financial position of the club. That has now thankfully been disbanded, what is he doing that warrants a full time wage? The coach and players aren't full time, yet it would appear we are in a position to pay an administrator to be full time. Wasting money on administrators salaries while the on field product suffers, sounds familiar...
Agendas? I'll tell you mine, I want this club to do as well as it possibly can given the hand its dealt. What's your agenda? You are the one shutting down debate, you've done this previously with the SOC debacle and that ended well.
You are in the unique position to question and report on this sort of thing, please use it and help your fellow supporters.
I’m still not sure what questions exactly you want asking. It appears to be “why is Phil Finney CEO?”. You say he’s incompetent, loosely based on poor recruitment and poor results. I don’t believe you have any real knowledge of how he performs as CEO, nor do I. But it’s the board’s decision to employ him and I’m sure they are happy to do so. It’s quite a different situation to James Rule, given he was trousering a load of expenses and was also on the board himself; he was unlikely to vote to sack himself.
I’m not sure if you listened to the podcast I did with PF, but he explained in pretty detailed terms the decisions surrounding the academy, especially in relation to the withheld funding and the financial impact. He even said in the interview that in hindsight, they shouldn’t have taken on the academy post administration - but the goalposts were changed and they weren’t aware of that.
There are numerous full-time staff within the club - are you calling for all of them to be sacked? Saving money on admin staff doesn’t create more room on the allocated salary cap.
I’ve asked Simon Finnigan some questions about the team - if they’re fit enough, if there’s an attitude problem, if confidence is an issue, what the situation is around recruitment etc - which will be in the next podcast.
I’m not shutting down any debate, I offer my opinion on things - I just don’t particularly appreciate being called out by anonymous people.
Flash - don’t let the idiots wind you up. You’re doing fine, nobody else gets as much info out of the club than you do.
It was only a matter of time till the Wire Comical Brothers turned on you Flash. It was a different story when I sent them a couple of DMs and they where pleading with you to ban me 😂😂 I would also put money on it that the have tried to get most posters on here banned. The Wire loving duo are Keyboard Gangsters of the highest calibre.
Hey glad you’ve crawled from under your rock and sorted out your internet. For your info I never had a pop at flash, as I pointed out that is fans own 11% of the club via VIQI therefore they are entitled to know what’s going on. As for trying to get you banned last time, spout the same stuff out at you did last time about a certain topic, at around 11 o’clock on a Saturday night when you’re fuelled on frosty jacks, it won’t be me, flash or anyone else that’ll try and get you banned, you’ll be jail me old china!
Anyway glad to see you back and look forward to your insightful comments about all things Widnes
Its good to see i can still get under the Snakes skin and I see your still full of empty threats, it won't be long before your alter ego starts posting to back you and the other wire🤡 up.
It’s not an empty threat chum, post what you did last time, and no amount of excuses will get you out of it!
😂😂😂😂 empty head
So, if VIQI (or the fans that contribute) are 11% shareholders, what input are they having, re; Coaching appointments (Finnigan) recruitment/retention of players?
Or, are the 'named' Board members just providing the funds to PF, to run the Club how he sees fit?
Who is calling the shots?
Paulie xx
That’s exactly my point to flash, by the looks of it all VIQI members should be written too, or at least emailed to let them know what the set up of the club is. I thought that is Mr Shaw is the VIQI chairman (I maybe wrong) and he was the ‘fans’ voice on the new board.
COMMUNICATION
We acknowledge that communication is key. VIQI members will receive regular updates by email and via the VIQI website. We will also share information and comment via our Twitter account (@Vikings_Quidsin). We also plan to introduce occasional meetings and online surveys and further channels for communication and opinion sharing. VIQI members are always welcome to send letters or emails to VIQI and we will endeavour to reply within ten working days info@viqi.co.uk
This is an extract from the VIQI Charter. If you are a member, why not contact them direct and ask the question? As you we know, Jason Shaw is the current VIQI representative on the club Board of Directors. You could also look at the WV Official site if you want to know what the "set up" is at the club - details of the first team backroom staff were reported in February.
As for fans having an input into the appointment of a coach and player recruitment/retention, isn't that Jason Shaw's role as the current VIQI representative on the Board. If you want VIQI to be more democratic in its appointments in future, why not put a motion to the next AGM about this.
For me, if you pay into VIQI and are not provided with regular updates / Info on what is going on and were YOUR money is going then I’m sorry your being shafted.
For me, if you pay into VIQI and are not provided with regular updates / Info on what is going on and were YOUR money is going then I’m sorry your being shafted.
Go to www.viqi.co.uk for the March 2021 Update.
Hey glad you’ve crawled from under your rock and sorted out your internet. For your info I never had a pop at flash, as I pointed out that is fans own 11% of the club via VIQI therefore they are entitled to know what’s going on. As for trying to get you banned last time, spout the same stuff out at you did last time about a certain topic, at around 11 o’clock on a Saturday night when you’re fuelled on frosty jacks, it won’t be me, flash or anyone else that’ll try and get you banned, you’ll be jail me old china! Anyway glad to see you back and look forward to your insightful comments about all things Widnes
Not all "fans" contribute to VIQI therefore to say ...that it is fans own 11% of the club via VIKI... is not correct.
Hey glad you’ve crawled from under your rock and sorted out your internet. For your info I never had a pop at flash, as I pointed out that is fans own 11% of the club via VIQI therefore they are entitled to know what’s going on. As for trying to get you banned last time, spout the same stuff out at you did last time about a certain topic, at around 11 o’clock on a Saturday night when you’re fuelled on frosty jacks, it won’t be me, flash or anyone else that’ll try and get you banned, you’ll be jail me old china! Anyway glad to see you back and look forward to your insightful comments about all things Widnes
Not all “fans” contribute to VIQI therefore to say …that it is fans own 11% of the club via VIKI… is not correct.
Do us all a favour sunny and translate your quote into English? Also could you explain what VIKI is?
Thanks in advance