Wherever they are held, Fans Forums are good after the Lonely Leader's Pravda operation.....
It will be interesting to hear whether we will run with a bigger squad from the start next year, feel we need to...
Also, on Logan Tomkins, if we are reasonably convinced he can be fit and play a good part next year then that would be of huge benefit...
Would not be surprised to see the likes of Farnworth and Else get snapped up by SL or even by Leigh if they get relegated too.
I would expect the players other clubs will be looking at would be Farnworth, Hatton, Else, Lawton, possibly Tilleke and possibly Edge. Hoping we can hang on to at least most of the above. Would imagine the veterans like Clough, Smith and Grady will be easier to hold on to.
The question that needs asking is why we have some full time players ? We need a larger squad so surly the money would be better spent on more part time players.
The question that needs asking is why we have some full time players ? We need a larger squad so surly the money would be better spent on more part time players.
I would imagine part of the role will be community based and paid out of funding.
The question that needs asking is why we have some full time players ? We need a larger squad so surly the money would be better spent on more part time players.
Who are our full-time players? Tomkins and Jewitt? Full-time injured!!!
How can clubs plan for next year if they have no idea what central funding they will be getting, if any? It is a difficult for any club these days, but Widnes must be in a better position than most others in the Championship, with a decent fan base and VIQI.
A full-time squad did us no good in 2019 and London and York (full-time?) are not exactly flying this year. Toulouse and Featherstone are way above anyone else in the Championship, but only one will be promoted. Will the other team be able to sustain a full time squad in the Championship next year with possibly little central funding?
The club (and the game generally) are at a critical stage. Widnes need to show that they have ambition to get back to SL and that will be reflected in the squad they build for next year. I guess we will have a predominantly part-time squad, but if we can attract (and afford!!!) one or two "quality" players by offering a full-time contract, maybe that will show the ambition and help to retain the fan base that the club has maintained post administration.
The next couple of years, under the latest Sky deal, will be critical for SL particularly. If Sky believe that the contracts are no longer attracted by SL (RL) they will cut again and maybe pull out. The SL name may keep them interested but all that it means now is that you are part of the Sky entertainment package - you could be women's soccer or RL.
Regarding young player retention, of more concern imo is the loss of the Academy that started them in our colours. Very soon we will be importing all our players from SL academies as surplus to their requirements. I just hope that the club's community view will be to keep closer contact with local amateur clubs, giving them support and an avenue to semi-pro ranks.
I thought Farnworth (not 100% sure why that name comes to mind) was our only ‘FT’ contract player
Tomkins started his own business didn’t he? that’s why he moved PT
Full time didn't do us much good in 2018 either, against Championship teams in the relegation/ promotion play offs.Shocking that we couldn't survive that year even with a poor team.
Jack Owens was announced as full time when he signed his previous contract, not sure about the latest one though.
Aren't Craven and Smith full-time too - they did the rugby camps with the kids.
I might be nitpicking here Sinbad but at least two of the Championsip teams who beat us in that middle 8s tournament were full time weren’t they? London and Toronto, maybe Toulouse as well. We did beat part time Halifax, not that that is anything to cheer about.
You are probably correct MT but it was still a poor show.I suppose that surviving would only have delayed the inevitable anyway, for another year.
I don't know who gets paid what but it has been posted on these columns that one failure of the mangement in the past was issuing progressive contracts that increased year by year. The arguement was presumably to retain the best players. But as years go on performance drops off in some cases. This wasnt reflected in pay so that peformance suffered.
In the future we will probably have to compete for all players as the academy has gone.
If my understanding is wrong perhaps someone with better info can enlighten me.
A surprise signing to be announced Monday evening according to Widnes social media feeds.
who could it be?
hopefully a big SL prop who’s not always injured.
Is that this Monday or a week on Monday at the meeting?