It's just the Pennines Sunny,not the Himalayas.As previously said,its just another excuse for Widnes being lousy again.And a poor excuse at that.
Ant Walker played for Bradford for a few seasons and is from St Helens. Think he didn't like the travel as tired him out, but does he really train harder now? 🤣 Personally a link up with a Super league side might be beneficial if get a few on loan for 3 months etc.
It's not about location or who has the bigger fan base or best ground or how many cups we won in the 70s/80s.
Nostalgic bullshit.
It's who pays the better wages and unfortunately we don't.
That's true to a point but the club only exists thanks to the support of that fan base at the eleventh hour.
That fan base is atm the only real financial option that the club can call on to increase its budget, other than local sponsorship.
So the question is whether there are sufficient numbers of fans willing to contribute to better contract offers, do we stay mid table at best, or do we just pack it all in ?
As I said on another thread we have had a first draft of the IMG report and it was good for us. Another one is due at the end of the season based on this years antics and because of that I would imagine the club and board are going all out to satisfy the criteria. At the moment there is, I believe only CH is in the office BUT we have interviewed and a media person is on the horizon and more personal to come from what I've been told. As for playing staff i expect a big turnover but just look at SL there are eight and ten players leaving some clubs that's almost a full team so I would expect the same here. Roll on next year (again)
I agree with you, sinbad, it was just an attempt at levity following Widnes77's phraseology!
If the number of our current players suggested as joining Oldham next season is correct, they could share a minibus and avoid the cost and inconvenience of individual travel.
@sandgroper we seem to be the best supported team in the league but still offer contract offers less than othe clubs.
Not that I check other teams attendances tbh..
I think we are behind Featherstone and Bradford on attendances.Not that crowds guarantee success.Look at Leeds and Hull in SL,two of the best supported clubs.
@sinbad Agreed 👍
Wire seem to have a good support and a couple of wealthy backers and they are garbage..
I think we are behind Featherstone and Bradford on attendances.Not that crowds guarantee success.Look at Leeds and Hull in SL,two of the best supported clubs.
Featherstone have been top of the league for the last few seasons, which helps them for attendances and Bradford have always been a big club. We are doing well seen as coming around 10th every season, and the culture needs to change. If the board where more upfront and had fans forum meetings once a month, then you might get a few joining WVIPS like myself. It is not helped by not knowing what they will spend the money on and a tilt for a competitive team rather than crap every season. People want to see a competitive side and at least regularly in the top 4.
@sunny you are correct, the sharing of driving/minibus is not uncommon, I am aware of this happening from the Warrington area to Barrow at one time and to NW Crusaders as well. I think I am correct in saying that those clubs "helped" with those arrangements but not 100% on that.
Totally agree with the comments on here regarding the signing of players from the far fields of Yorkshire and Cumbria, where I believe they now have modern cars and motorways!
If we are able to offer a good enough contract, then I am sure that travel arrangements could be sorted out.
If we can’t afford to offer decent contracts to part-time players, maybe with some local sponsorship, how can we afford a full-time Chief Executive/Head of Integrated Services?
Maybe there will be also some improvement in the communication with fans, which is needed if the Club want to retain the current level of support next year.
@frankg Maybe we could tempt them over by offering accomodation with inside toilets.
"If we are able to offer a good enough contract" ... that's the key isn't it? Because if we can't, which I don't think we can, I'm not driving over from Yorks on a Tuesday and Thursday night after work to train. Who would?
We don't need a money man to make the play-offs and compete in this league. If we come up short there, it's bad coaching or recruitment.
But we do need a money man to be a promotion candidate.
People are saying Sheffield, Batley, Halifax have no money man. But they're going nowhere either. They're Championship rooted like us.
If we can take Warrington and Saints cast offs, then great. But most of those guys think they can still get a full-time gig somewhere.
It's not as easy as people think. As said, there's only us and Swinton in this league from Lancs.
"If we are able to offer a good enough contract" ... that's the key isn't it? Because if we can't, which I don't think we can, I'm not driving over from Yorks on a Tuesday and Thursday night after work to train. Who would?
We don't need a money man to make the play-offs and compete in this league. If we come up short there, it's bad coaching or recruitment.
But we do need a money man to be a promotion candidate.
People are saying Sheffield, Batley, Halifax have no money man. But they're going nowhere either. They're Championship rooted like us.
If we can take Warrington and Saints cast offs, then great. But most of those guys think they can still get a full-time gig somewhere.
It's not as easy as people think. As said, there's only us and Swinton in this league from Lancs.
Possibly isn't as easy to get players in this area as we think. Unless we are in the job at the club, but how do Sheffield get players from abroad and we don't? Well there is 5 Superleague teams in a 30 mile radius from us, and I am sure we could get a link up with a Superleague team? Do deals for 3 months loans and also a dual system, even though I am not a big fan of it to be honest. If better quality than what got already then use the system for forwards, and not pivotal positions? Props, back rowers are helpful or a class centre on dual helps of can't find enough in our initial squad.