On the grapevine some positive news an Saudi billionaire is taking over Widnes with immediate results.
Decent discussion on here and some good points made, especially the need to try to build a younger fan base for the future.
There seems to be some posters who must have an inside knowledge of the Club reading their mostly critical comments. I am sure that the Directors are continuously seeking further sponsorship from local firms and looking at ways to promote the Club locally. If there was a wealthy local benefactor(s) with the means and and inclination to bankroll the Club into SL, I am sure Directors would have welcomed them with open arms.
I would not criticise Directors individually, as they have stepped forward to run the Club and given their time and money to do this, with little or no reward; and in return have to accept criticism, sometimes unfairly. Perhaps the Club does need to be more open with fans about their short and long-term aims and strategy to re-build for the future; and even take on board some of the suggestions made by well meaning fans. What happened to the fans forum? Maybe taking up James Gordon's offer (?) to help promote the Club and bring the fans and the Club together through the podcast
We are what we are. A mid-table Championship team, with aspirations of a top 6 finish, struggling financially to build and retain a competitive squad in a competitive Championship league. We are a million miles from SL, which in any event, despite the hyperbole of Sky commentators, sees many of those SL Clubs struggling.
In the meantime, just enjoy the games whether you attend games, listen on Merseyside or watch on Widnes TV, or simply just keep in touch with the game. See you on Sunday when we beat York!!!!
Decent discussion on here and some good points made, especially the need to try to build a younger fan base for the future.
There seems to be some posters who must have an inside knowledge of the Club reading their mostly critical comments. I am sure that the Directors are continuously seeking further sponsorship from local firms and looking at ways to promote the Club locally. If there was a wealthy local benefactor(s) with the means and and inclination to bankroll the Club into SL, I am sure Directors would have welcomed them with open arms.
I would not criticise Directors individually, as they have stepped forward to run the Club and given their time and money to do this, with little or no reward; and in return have to accept criticism, sometimes unfairly. Perhaps the Club does need to be more open with fans about their short and long-term aims and strategy to re-build for the future; and even take on board some of the suggestions made by well meaning fans. What happened to the fans forum? Maybe taking up James Gordon's offer (?) to help promote the Club and bring the fans and the Club together through the podcast
We are what we are. A mid-table Championship team, with aspirations of a top 6 finish, struggling financially to build and retain a competitive squad in a competitive Championship league. We are a million miles from SL, which in any event, despite the hyperbole of Sky commentators, sees many of those SL Clubs struggling.
In the meantime, just enjoy the games whether you attend games, listen on Merseyside or watch on Widnes TV, or simply just keep in touch with the game. See you on Sunday when we beat York!!!!
Yours could sooooooooooo, be a Swinton post!
"Younger fan base" has been mentioned many times, and I would imagine the average age of the current Lions' regular is 40+ and that defo includes yours truly LOL.
There are regular messages on Facebook criticising our board too, who like you, have invested their own money into the club, but (again like you) none of 'em are millionaires, and in my opinion, do a great job. Our chairman, rather than sitting in the stand, is with us in the Shed, as he was when he was a "normal" fan. Top guy!
You are pushing for a play-off place, as are we in the third tier, and of course, there's (plenty) of other clubs who are of a similar scenario.
We're doing well these days if we have a four figure attendance at home, but (yet again) like you, we're still around alive and kicking.
Keep the faith Chemics, as (those we have left) do so at the Lions!
Spelly.
Firstly when posting about people it's polite to mention their name, secondly you read through someone's last 50 posts and say you are not a stalker. My 11 year old grandson is even laughing at you. When stuck in a hole stop digging.@prisoner it’s definitely you with the problems not me fella
@prisoner clearly need to put your glasses on pal because it said ‘if’. I have better things to do then read through any of your continuous past drivel. You only post when there’s something negative to talk about or to turn something negative so it’s not hard to see
It's just 80 minutes of second division rugby.I don't know how we arrived here,dreading York at home.We've got York and Toulouse next. God almighty, can you imagine what this place is going to be like. Shoot me now.
It's just 80 minutes of second division rugby.I don't know how we arrived here,dreading York at home.We've got York and Toulouse next. God almighty, can you imagine what this place is going to be like. Shoot me now.
I'm not dreading the match, just the histrionics on here 😆
Personally I am thinking a 12 points plus lost to York as I feel they are one of the best teams in the league. Hopefully we can find 2 props soon and some of the local businesses helping to fund it. I would sod Warrington off and look at Leigh for loan players.
@pauliewalnuts What is his actual job? What does he do? I know we haven’t got many staff, so I presume his job is a few things combined in the one title.
What we need is a person with experience , whose sole job is trying to get people/companies to part with their money and help the club out.
I suppose it depends if the club think it’s worth the risk of paying someone to do that job, with no guarantee it will work.
"Chief Revenue Officer"
The new director seems to have done more on that front in about two weeks than anything we've seen in the previous nine months.
Great Dane don't take it personal i partly agree with you, and I know the board are doing there best. I just think a little more proactive could be done, which Andy Horabin has proved already in a short space of time. I do WVIPS, go games and bought a few Child Pass it on schemes. Bought merchandise and do everything I can living far away from the Town.
Great Dane I don't want to see the fan base go to 1800 average and we start struggling to buy a decent squad mate. It can spiral down very fast. Anyway enjoy the weather 😎😂 Hopefully the club retract and let James Gordon help with his services. 👍
I should probably jump in at the mention of my name and provide some accuracy lol just in case people take it the wrong way.
I approached Chris Price in mid-2022 with some thoughts and ideas about helping the club, and we (me and my business) did help for a little while going in to the 2023 season. Unfortunately it coincided with the uncertainty around Phil Finney and the departure of the media manager, so rather than doing some of the things that were discussed, we effectively took on the duties left by the media manager (managing socials, matchdays etc) rather than some of the more strategic comms stuff I had initially suggested.
I retracted services with notice in June 2023 because I didn't agree with how Chris Hamilton was going about things and I didn't want to be associated with it. I felt it would be hypocritical of me to take money for my services and at the same time not agree with how things were being run. I had met Chris the day after he joined the Vikings at his request (and candidly outlined again my thoughts and ideas), and he never spoke to me directly after that, despite the club engaging my services. People may recall there was a rather disastrous period of the club's socials and comms that occurred after this. They then went and advertised for a Head of Media position and Dan (who is still in situ and a good lad) was hired later that year.
I left my full-time role with Love Rugby League in June 2023 and have been freelancing since - I'm always open to offers!
After the IMG meeting in October, I approached Stuart Murphy about helping the club with getting a new website, had a meeting, set up an example site but nothing came of it.
No one from club has ever approached me about working for it or helping.
Obviously I appreciate people saying good things about the podcast and the links to the fans etc. I will always be a fan first, but I'd like to think I can be objective and professional to at least provide both sides of a debate.
🙂
@jdgsport thankyou for your honesty James. Sounds again like the club are not taking up offers of help from professionals or trying to do stuff on the cheap? How many times has Widnes been in this position? It’s criminal.
Thank you for the summary and, despite the knockbacks, for your continued support to the club.