Widnes nearly cracked it between 2002 and 2005 and to a lesser extent between 2013 and 2016. The difference was that whilst the likes of Cas or Wakefield or even Salford have found a way to cling on and then develop their squads, we depleted our squad from a position of relative strength and recruited badly in 04/05. There is no reason to my mind if Cas and Salford can be Grand Finalists, why not us?
If Widnes give up trying to be an SL Club or a Championship winning club, then that is the surest way to see the club end up in a Halifax situation of regular 1500 crowds or worse.
It will not be an absolute disaster if we don't win the Championship GF in the next 2 or 3 years, that being said.
Widnes nearly cracked it between 2002 and 2005 and to a lesser extent between 2013 and 2016. The difference was that whilst the likes of Cas or Wakefield or even Salford have found a way to cling on and then develop their squads, we depleted our squad from a position of relative strength and recruited badly in 04/05. There is no reason to my mind if Cas and Salford can be Grand Finalists, why not us? If Widnes give up trying to be an SL Club or a Championship winning club, then that is the surest way to see the club end up in a Halifax situation of regular 1500 crowds or worse. It will not be an absolute disaster if we don’t win the Championship GF in the next 2 or 3 years, that being said.
If we could have a concerted period of not being a bit of basket case of a club the potential is here to be a strong super league side. We have a reasonably solid fan base and a well regarded academy, good ground etc. It's all there it just needs for us to not fall into financial ruin and build.
We have to prove to everyone that we are organised and are operating successfully. Others have avoided 'admin' with help from a sugar daddy but we weren't so lucky and have had to extricate ourselves.
That isn't to say that we don't want to get back but it has to be done.
As an aside if there was a team going up other than Widnes who would we like to see? I'd like to see Tolouse given a go, wouldn't begrudge Leigh though even though I think they're an inferior version of us in many ways.
Not a bad option in that it would give fans a taste of more SL games played outside the UK.
Salford are a great example, they back their coach which of course Rule never did with Betts. They have lost good players over the years in Hastings, BMM, Josh Jones, Lui, Griffin etc and replace them with Brown, Sarginson, Lolohea, Pauli Pauli, Williams, Kear etc.
We never did this with the players we lost (Brown/Corey Thompson etc.) and even the infamous Rangi Chase stint we got him what 6 months after Brown went? And when he was banned we never replaced him either. We couldn't kick on because we used the money to pay the board of directors and not on the field. It shows when you do go up if you get your house in order you can have a go at it. I'm not suggesting we can compete for Grand Finals if we ever get promoted but there has to be a long term goal to go as far as we can.
If our ambition isn't there, we lost the identity of this great club and the great teams we've had in the past.
As an aside if there was a team going up other than Widnes who would we like to see? I’d like to see Tolouse given a go, wouldn’t begrudge Leigh though even though I think they’re an inferior version of us in many ways.
Bradford Northern/Bulls- if they could get back to Odsal or another Stadium and have sorted out their financial problems. They are a big club and regularly attracted 10,000+ crowds pre 2012.
London - last chance to grow game in London subject to getting a decent ground. A better option than TWP to try and expand the game, although failed to make any real impact since the inception of Fulham in 1981. Perhaps needs a big investor to strengthen the team and a concerted effort by the owners and RFL/SL to promote the game in the South.
Leigh - because I feel sorry for Beaumont, although I believe Widnes have an equal, if not better case for promotion.
Toulouse - if the aim is to continue the European expansion, although they have poor crowd attendances, but may grow. In my opinion, the aim should be to grow and develop the game in France, not weaken it by moving the better teams to SL. If it was successful in France, that would be real expansion of the game; would improve the international game with a stronger French squad; and a European competition involving UK and French and other European teams. Same with NA - develop NA league first and, if successful, another expansion of the game at international level and potentially a world club championship involving Australasian/UK/European teams.
Swinton - just to please Spelly!! Great team in the past, but seems to have lost its identity and links with the town
Featherstone - only because they reached the play-off final last year, although as has been said, this is on the back of their links with Leeds and no better claim than Widnes
.................. and finally
Newcastle - Better option than Ottawa in the long term if we wish to expand the game in the UK. This is a strong sporting area and may see increased interest in the North East if the club is successful - and does seem to have ambition.
All the indications are that we have learned, that hard way maybe, but we have learned and have started from a very low base, stripped to the bare essentials.
This is probably the best place to start, adding only what is going to benefit team and the club. In the O'Connor era we tried to match the top club organisations which is fine for as long as the money man has his hand in his pocket. If that isn't the case we are on the back foot and can be manipulated, as the club was.
Salford have done well, it's true, but I am not aware how they finance themselves. If is is purely from SL and gate money I would be very surprised.
However we are financed we have to have sufficient cash to build a sufficiently strong squad, with a credible Coach, to avoid struggling and becoming a yo-yo club.
It seems that there are a number of better organised lower league clubs about these days. Competition next year will be tough and a great place to test our credentials. A good season would be a massive boost to our street cred and to our supporters.
If we pass all expectations and promotion is on offer I cannot see us refusing it, but it would need another mad weekend of fundraising plus a follow up!
Purely as a fan I’m not sure Super League is that much better than Championship.
I much prefer Sunday 15:00 at ‘rugby’ grounds.
And simply as a fan of the game and the club, that suits me, but others need the buzz of pushing for the top rank. Depends how old your are to some degree, I might not see SL again!
Salford are a great example, they back their coach which of course Rule never did with Betts.
Joking are'nt you ? Betts was Widnes coach in SL for 7 seasons during which Rule was CEO for 5 of those.
There is an argument that you shouldn't keep a coach too long. But it must depend on the coach, as a man. Some top coaches have been a constant and it has worked. Unless you really know what goes on behind the scenes its hard to judge.
Salford are a great example, they back their coach which of course Rule never did with Betts.
Joking are’nt you ? Betts was Widnes coach in SL for 7 seasons during which Rule was CEO for 5 of those.
So Rule was CEO/Chief Exec for 70% of Betts' reign do you think he backed him enough?
The change in Coach should have been made after survival the previous season not midway through the season . Rules appointment was the beginning of the end and a slow exit from SL started with him . More interested in directors saleries than players and performances on the pitch.
The Vicar
So Rule was CEO/Chief Exec for 70% of Betts’ reign do you think he backed him enough?
More than enough.Too much I'd say.Unless you mean backing him with new signings which is a different argument.Although we did get Brown, Tickle, Phelps, Thompson and Gareth Hock.