Any bets on the assistant coach being Grant Gore? Already at the club in a coach role and a Finney favourite.
Any bets on the assistant coach being Grant Gore? Already at the club in a coach role and a Finney favourite.
Is he still there? I heard he was doing crazy hours so was looking at getting into something else. This was before all this mess though.
The club often trained at the same time (16s/18s/first team) so the idea that Tim Sheens was on his own is incorrect. They did talk to coaches around helping out for free but this never materialised. There was a big cross over with the 18s/reserves/first team that there had to be more people helping out under TS.
Also, why are people assuming the assistant coach is already in place? Would assume any HC would want to employ their own.
Also, why are people assuming the assistant coach is already in place? Would assume any HC would want to employ their own.
It says so in the advert
'Experience of coaching Rugby League in a professional environment is essential'.....
'Demonstrate experience of planning with great attention to detail'.
Wouldn't hold out much hope for newbies.
Deadline 26th October, so maybe looking mid November for an announcement?
The coaching staff thing is a bit of an odd one, unless there is an assistant signed/promoted and that met with Sheens' disapproval given the departure of his Stats Man?
The coaching staff is the establishment rather than the staff in post. The final number will depend on the pay agreed !
The coaching staff is the establishment rather than the staff in post. The final number will depend on the pay agreed !
The ad says: The Head Coach will join the existing multi-disciplinary first team staff, made up of an Assistant Coach, Analyst, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and medical staff.
That implies the other coaching staff is already in place. Yet no one appears to have much of a clue who they are.
VIQI statement says that Sheens' departure wasn't financial related but due to "other factors" that they can't reveal "out of respect". Presumably it isn't "personal reasons" either, as otherwise they would have said that.
Something is amiss somewhere, but unfortunately doesn't seem like we'll ever get to find out.
The coaching staff is the establishment rather than the staff in post. The final number will depend on the pay agreed !
The ad says: The Head Coach will join the existing multi-disciplinary first team staff, made up of an Assistant Coach, Analyst, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and medical staff. That implies the other coaching staff is already in place. Yet no one appears to have much of a clue who they are. VIQI statement says that Sheens’ departure wasn’t financial related but due to “other factors” that they can’t reveal “out of respect”. Presumably it isn’t “personal reasons” either, as otherwise they would have said that. Something is amiss somewhere, but unfortunately doesn’t seem like we’ll ever get to find out.
Well fans will simply stop caring and paying it's that simple. Opens up a can of worms if VIQI don't tell the members then they should never have a member on the board. In the words of Jim Royle "clarity my arse".
Wheres the VIQI statement?
If you are in VIQI, the statement got emailed to you.
I think the advert and the statement raise as many questions as they answer, in the sense that if Sheens did not go for financial reasons, then why? Let alone the assistant coach thing.
In fairness, at least VIQI did release a statement which shows commitment to communicating.
I've messaged them to ask why I haven't received it. Thanke
There have to be some things that shouldn't be made public for s host of reasons. Would you like your employer blabbing your personal life to all and sundry.
The VIQI statement is sensible and covers most of the things over which people might be suspicious. Until that is proved to be false that has to be accepted, or is everything and everybody associated with Widnes RLFC assumed to be dishonest?
Let the board do their business and criticise then. Carry on with the suspicion and innuendo and nobody will want to come here, or support the club.
The coaching staff is the establishment rather than the staff in post. The final number will depend on the pay agreed !
The ad says: The Head Coach will join the existing multi-disciplinary first team staff, made up of an Assistant Coach, Analyst, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and medical staff. That implies the other coaching staff is already in place. Yet no one appears to have much of a clue who they are. VIQI statement says that Sheens’ departure wasn’t financial related but due to “other factors” that they can’t reveal “out of respect”. Presumably it isn’t “personal reasons” either, as otherwise they would have said that. Something is amiss somewhere, but unfortunately doesn’t seem like we’ll ever get to find out.
I’ll be honest- I think it’s disgraceful.
Absolutely disgraceful.
What happened to being honest?
'Multidisciplinary first team staff' is the key bit for me. Basically that says to me the under 19's coach is also the first team assistant coach, other club staff are also doing more than one role. Stat man, SOC coach etc etc.
The other thing is why can the VIQI board ask why Sheens left and be told the answer, yet members who pay in every month and also season ticket holders aren't? Either tell every member or tell no one.
Last point thats unrelated, how do we as members choose the VIQI member to represent us on the board and do they have any plans to hold an election or will it be the same person forever?
I am not a member of VIQI, so really not in a position to comment, but ...................
Whilst there perhaps needs to be some clarity from the club about Sheens departure, perhaps we should all concentrate on what's best for the club moving forward. I am disappointed that Sheens left as I saw him as our one hope for the future with the experience and respect to attract decent players and develop players. Why the statement came through VIQI and not the club is perhaps more a reflection on the club.
It is heartening that Sheens departure was not for financial reasons and the club appear to be looking to attract a quality replacement committed to moving the club forward. Sheens arrival gave the club hope of recovery after the disaster of 2019 and we should be thankful for that. You never know his departure may well be the catalyst for future development of the club and we uncover a pearl of a coach who fans will be talking about in years to come, as us old timers look back on Karalius and Laughton!!
As far as I can tell, Jason Shaw and other supporters who set up VIQI have done so without any personal reward and should be commended for the support given to the club for many years - and continue to do so. I am disgusted when on occasions the people behind VIQI have been the subject of unnecessary and unwarranted personal criticism on here, from people who have probably not put in a fraction of the effort and support for the club. Unfortunately, social media does seem to attract a few people who simply like to be negative and snipe from the side lines.
I can only give credit to those fans who set up - and fans who have contributed to VIQI - to support the club through sponsorship and being able to sign players that we would otherwise have not been able to sign when Directors were simply taking money out of the club; but more particularly, their role in saving the club after the disaster of Administration in 2019. A seat on the Board was the least that they deserved. The criticism of individuals is certainly not deserved.
It is perhaps unfortunate that a statement was made about Sheens through VIQI - but it did answer the point that it was not about money - and perhaps it would have been better coming from the Club. VIQI can't win with some. They are criticised for not being open with their "members" and then criticised for trying to clarify an issue being discussed by fans.
Probably VIQI has outgrown its original intention - a few dedicated fans wanting to raise money to support the club through sponsorship. It played a key role in saving the club from Administration and continues to have a key role in the future growth of the club. My guess is that if the individuals who set up VIQI and put in their time and effort to develop its role. Widnes Vikings may well have disappeared in 2019 or been languishing in League 1 with little hope for the future. Maybe the time is right for the VIQI Board and its many contributing members to review its future role and the role of individual members.
A seat on the Widnes Board for Jason Shaw was and is more than justified as the the founding member of VIQI. He is clearly a passionate supporter of the Club and no doubt has made a positive contribution to the running of the club since 2019. We should remember and ask ourselves, that without Jason's commitment and those of others who set it up, where would we be now if VIQI had never been there in 2019.
Maybe VIQI needs to review its future management structure and the role of those fans contributing to its funds, but please lets not forget the role of Jason Shaw and others who started and seen VIQI become a key organisation in the ensuring we have a club to support. Long may it continue.
,,, and before anyone says so, I will be considering contributing to VIQI. See you all in March/April (hopefully!!!)
The Widnes psyche doesn't cover 'trust', I'm afraid, Frankg.
We moan about a Coach leaving, for what is to us an unknown reason, and that immediately becomes a lack of trust in the board, staff and VIQI organisers who rescued us from oblivion only months ago!!!
I await the proposal to shut VIQI down and let the club fail. (Of course we would only have the proposer's word that they actually contribute!)
Then the untrusting could claim the victory of a self-fulfilling prophesy, Rule failed but Widnes fans succeeded! Brilliant!!
More rationally perhaps a couple of weeks or so and we might have a new coach.