Well could sense him trying his best to say the right things to keep doors open , not always successful lol
poor lad bleeds Widnes and just wants action but more than the board are willing to give
thought James put across well that it's a substantial investment including the business club which after Stuart saying turnover would double in failing to see how if have to replace money for business club
Great work by James ....and a very frustrating listen to be totally honest
@cumbria-viking yes Andy came across as someone who wants to help but was constantly hamstrung by systems and planning none of which has come to bear
but when you add that to Tim leaving and the lad that was a fan ambassador they are all saying same thing unfortunately and they can't all be wrong
I could sense AH's frustration with the Board, but in the way that they wouldn't let him make all of the decisions and do everything he wanted and in his way.
He may have Widnes Vikings at heart, have buckets of money to invest, but a team player he didn't seem to be to me.
I can well understand the Board being wary of him.
I know Andy well a nice lad but a windmiller, and probably difficult to work with so the board will be wary. No point being on the board if keeps walking out and i heard 3 times.🤣
His heart is for the club and a shame they can not come together for the best for the club. Andy should have stayed on the board than pull himself out of it.
@sunny always 2 sides to everyone’s story…
we need investment but we also don’t need one person thinking they know best and ruling the roost, as too many clubs go wrong doing it that way
lets hope for some positive collaboration that works for everyone who wants the best for WV
I'm sure Andy would say the Board are difficult to work with, just as much as they say it about him. But like you say, it's a shame they can't come together for the benefit of the Club.I know Andy well a nice lad but a windmiller, and probably difficult to work with so the board will be wary. No point being on the board if keeps walking out and i heard 3 times.🤣
His heart is for the club and a shame they can not come together for the best for the club. Andy should have stayed on the board than pull himself out of it.
All parties are passionate about the Club (and I include Tim H in that), but is that passion just to get by for a Sunday RL 'fix', or to see WVRLFC push on and make it difficult for the RFL/SLE to ignore?
I know what I want, and it's Thursday/Friday nights, under the lights.
See y'all at The Shay in your crunchie Shirts.
Paulie xx
I agree Paulie I'm sure Andy is hard work but the board have lost him ,Tim and kev buck all people who put in extra to push us forward all positive people yet none of those could make it work with the board ?! Positivity seems not to work
for the good of the club they need to work together
I'm sure Andy would say the Board are difficult to work with, just as much as they say it about him. But like you say, it's a shame they can't come together for the benefit of the Club.I know Andy well a nice lad but a windmiller, and probably difficult to work with so the board will be wary. No point being on the board if keeps walking out and i heard 3 times.🤣
His heart is for the club and a shame they can not come together for the best for the club. Andy should have stayed on the board than pull himself out of it.
All parties are passionate about the Club (and I include Tim H in that), but is that passion just to get by for a Sunday RL 'fix', or to see WVRLFC push on and make it difficult for the RFL/SLE to ignore?
I know what I want, and it's Thursday/Friday nights, under the lights.
See y'all at The Shay in your crunchie Shirts.
Paulie xx
Twinny did have a point that there is always someone at work you do not want on your shift or to be a colleague. So in my opinion I think they all have to come together and find a solution for the benefit of the club. The money Andy will bring in will help to push a few extra quality players to the squad. We need to be aiming top 3 every season and bang on the door for Super League.Speculate to accumulate as Horabin says.
We got to remember 50 buosness club members at £100 a month is 5k or 60k a season. Personally i think Andy did a great job more than some members, who seem to be not doing anything now.
I thought a very fair interview, Andy clearly has the passion for the club and is willing to invest. Not many people are banging on the door to invest in RL with the current state of the game in general. So while he may be difficult to work with at times, the current board have a responsibility to find a way to make it work in the broader interests of the club, fans and community.
Resistance to change and someone coming in and shaking things up a bit is understandable but 7 years on from taking the club on and only making the play offs once with crowds dropping (no being negative just facts) I think it could be exactly what the club needs. As James alluded to, what have we got to lose?
@dan1 I'm afraid your right the softly softly approach won't get us in super league and we all see the drawbridge being pulled up there is no time for a 5 yr plan anymore
we need a new approach or the board tell us that we happy as we are in championship and we crack on with that
Just listened to the podcast. Andy Horabin comes across as a genuine Widnes supporter and wants to invest in the Club with the stated aim of getting us back into SL. A proposed total investment of £150,000 should not be rejected lightly by the Board, in addition to the income from the Business Club he set up.
He admits that he made mistakes and finds it difficult to work in a team, but seems genuine in his wish to get back on board to help the Club achieve the aim of SL. One fear was the sustainability of the investment over the medium and longer term, if his business faced financial problems - with investment of £1.5m needed annually if we got into SL.
Isn't that the same position that every SL Club is in with wealthy individuals keeping Clubs afloat? What would happen to Leigh if for whatever reason, the Beaumont investment was pulled? The same with all Clubs relying on the investment of wealthy backers to maintain a competitive team.
When and if we can have a chance of attaining SL status is in the incompetent hands of the RFL and probably NRL, when they take over SL. In the meantime, all we can do is aim to be the best team in the Championship. If that needs additional investment to build a squad capable of achieving this in 2027 and beyond, it must be a difficult decision for the Board to turn away an investment of £150,000 plus, only because of a clash of personalities.
Of course, Andy Horabin could still put his money in to sponsor a few quality players. I reckon £150,000 could put is a good position to sign these quality players (subject to how that fits in with the salary cap) that may change us from a Club seeking to be competitive in the Championship with an aim of finishing in a play-off position, to a Club with an ambition to top the league and win the play-off, every year. Having said that, with that level of investment, he should be entitled to have a say on the way that the Club is run.
My view is the Board should try to resolve any issues that they have with Andy Horabin and get him and his investment back on board.
Where can you find the interview?