Also said a top 4 finish next season with the league structure more than likely changing to what we expect is an absolute must no excuses.
No excuses, none at all.I just get the impression that we and the other five will be in no man's land for the foreseeable future.In 2023 the championship six would be up against FOUR relegated SL clubs.Then a different one relegated from SL year on year.Seems highly unlikely to me that promotion is feasible for one of the 6 Championship teams that qualify.
Also said a top 4 finish next season with the league structure more than likely changing to what we expect is an absolute must no excuses.
No excuses, none at all.I just get the impression that we and the other five will be in no man’s land for the foreseeable future.In 2023 the championship six would be up against FOUR relegated SL clubs.Then a different one relegated from SL year on year.Seems highly unlikely to me that promotion is feasible for one of the 6 Championship teams that qualify.
Think it would depend on funding. Every time we have been relegated it's pretty much meant financial ruin + starting from scratch. Other clubs have managed to keep at least some of the squad together and bounce back 1st time
Think it would depend on funding. Every time we have been relegated it’s pretty much meant financial ruin + starting from scratch. Other clubs have managed to keep at least some of the squad together and bounce back 1st time
Have to agree with that. Really comes down to part time or not. If the Championship side is part time it will struggle to retain players of a standard to gain promotion again. Our experience this year makes it pretty plain tbh. The point has to be just how the RFL/SL split the Sky income. If it is reserved for the SL 1 then SL 2 is SL in name only.
Any club such as ours wanting to stay on a high level, even in SL 2, will have to be FT from the off. Sky cash will top up but probably not be enough to sustain the club on its own. We might just about do it with better crowds but others could struggle for ever.
Fev's relationship with Leeds could keep them going effectively as Leeds Reserves, though that could be more difficult if Sky effectively ditch the game.
Of course the funding changes could affect players too, lowering their contract scale. There's a lot for the RFL/SL to sort out and the sooner the better.
On the funding front if there ever was a wealthy person interested in RL and wanting to get involved now is a great time!!!
A 'name' club, beaten the administration threat and looking to grow again with a recognised following .
Just needs some financial security to make the leap again.
Is anyone completely bewildered with us signing Wild? A good, solid player but I hear many of the compliments heading his way all say “he always gives 100%”.
That is true but that’s the minimum. To me, he played in some of the worst Widnes teams off the last 20 years and he barely stood out. We need more!!
Deon Cross signing for Super League Salford exhibits the ever decreasing player pool that is no doubt facing us. I rate him as a player but 2 seasons ago he was playing for Barrow and since signing for us, he has a decent but no extraordinary try-scoring record. Amazing, what playing for a big club like Widnes does for a players value.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Deon Cross signing for Super League Salford exhibits the ever decreasing player pool that is no doubt facing us. I rate him as a player but 2 seasons ago he was playing for Barrow and since signing for us, he has a decent but no extraordinary try-scoring record. Amazing, what playing for a big club like Widnes does for a players value.</p>
Has he actually yet signed for Salford?
Deon Cross signing for Super League Salford exhibits the ever decreasing player pool that is no doubt facing us. I rate him as a player but 2 seasons ago he was playing for Barrow and since signing for us, he has a decent but no extraordinary try-scoring record. Amazing, what playing for a big club like Widnes does for a players value.
To be fair, he's scored 19 tries in 21 games for the team that's 10th in the Championship... not a bad return.
On the funding front if there ever was a wealthy person interested in RL and wanting to get involved now is a great time!!! A ‘name’ club, beaten the administration threat and looking to grow again with a recognised following . Just needs some financial security to make the leap again.
But aren't we proof that it doesn't work? Yes SOC wasn't a RL man, but he pumped in plenty of money over the years. And we did OK for a while, but when he gets fed up then what?
Likewise, Salford had Koukash - and have actually done better since he went and they've not got a pot to piss him.
Is anyone completely bewildered with us signing Wild? A good, solid player but I hear many of the compliments heading his way all say “he always gives 100%”. That is true but that’s the minimum. To me, he played in some of the worst Widnes teams off the last 20 years and he barely stood out. We need more!!
Bewildered is pretty harsh; he's a good, solid Championship player. And it's not like the club have said "this is the only signing".
On the funding front if there ever was a wealthy person interested in RL and wanting to get involved now is a great time!!! A ‘name’ club, beaten the administration threat and looking to grow again with a recognised following . Just needs some financial security to make the leap again.
But aren’t we proof that it doesn’t work? Yes SOC wasn’t a RL man, but he pumped in plenty of money over the years. And we did OK for a while, but when he gets fed up then what? Likewise, Salford had Koukash – and have actually done better since he went and they’ve not got a pot to piss him.
And what you say is true, but can you honestly seeing us survive and be successful in SL on our present financial model?
A part time Salford, Wakefield, Leigh and Featherstone for example, relegated at the end of next year, will still be too strong for the championship even if their best players are snapped up.In my opinion.In the past its only been one relegated club that has gone into free fall but expecting four of them to do so is a bit it much.
To be fair, Wilde was one of the best performers 2 years ago and if you are talking about depth, which we need, you have then got Wilde, Lawton, Grady, Baker as back row options assuming all stay, plus Josh Wilde who can be selected as and when rather than nearly every week.
All of that of course assumes we solve the props issue.
As for Cross, he is a good Championship winger but who knows whether he can convert that into SL quality....remember all the points Mick Nanyn scored for Widnes and Haven, yet didn't do well in SL....
On the funding front if there ever was a wealthy person interested in RL and wanting to get involved now is a great time!!! A ‘name’ club, beaten the administration threat and looking to grow again with a recognised following . Just needs some financial security to make the leap again.
But aren’t we proof that it doesn’t work? Yes SOC wasn’t a RL man, but he pumped in plenty of money over the years. And we did OK for a while, but when he gets fed up then what? Likewise, Salford had Koukash – and have actually done better since he went and they’ve not got a pot to piss him.
SO'C said from pretty much day one that the aim was to get Widnes back into SL then make the club self sufficient. I don't think we were a million miles away from that, but without going over old ground, there were multiple people off the pitch who obviously didn't have the club's best interests at heart. Going back to 2016, I personally believe that had we had the right personel in charge, things would have been a lot different.
Given where we are however, without a big injection of cash to build the momentum, its hard to see how it is possible to complete with the likes of Salford, Leigh, Wakefield and Huddersfield. Very naive to think a money man doesn't make a difference. Without SO'C coming in in the 1st place it's questionable as to whether we would have got back into SL in the 1st place. Don't think SO'C losing interest was necessarily the problem, it was what the other 'custodians' were doing with the club was the problem.
IMHO a very accurate summary ‘89.
Whatever criticism is levelled at the current manager and coach, itv is absolutely nothing compared to the reign of Rule et al.