I wonder why Widnes have not commented on the application? If a decision has been made not to apply, then why not tell fans.
I was wondering that myself, it would be nice to hear it confirmed one way or the other.Then again, apart from Featherstone, I have'nt noticed the others anouncing their intentions either.
We may be preparing a bid, but it’s unlikely. It would be pretty traumatic just at the moment anyway and the cards are pretty well stacked for full time teams. A great deal of smoke and mirrors of course with SL/RFL as ever, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘relegation’ issue is revisited next year if the offer goes to a club with influential friends! Hope that doesn’t sound too cynical!
Cynical yes - but probably true!
Just a thought, but if the transition from part-time in the Championship to full-time in the SL is difficult now, won't it be equally difficult next season and the the season after? In that case, are Widnes planning to build up finances, so that the transition to full-time is achievable either on promotion or to build a strong full-time squad in the Championship.
I actually believe that it won't be too long before SL goes back to a licensing system with no promotion or relegation. I also believe that a strong and competitive Championship would be good for RL with teams like Widnes, Leigh, York, London/Toulouse/Bradford, Featherstone. Halifax, Newcastle and maybe even Salford, HKR, Huddersfield, Wakefield when they are dropped from the expansionist plans, as well as possibly resurgent Oldham, Sheffield, Whitehaven, Dewsbury, Batley, Swinton and Rochdale. You can but hope!
Phil Finney will be on radio Merseyside tonight at 6pm to discuss the club's position about SL application.
We are not applying, its too soon for us but we do aspire to get there one day👍👍
This is the correct decision. Let us look forward to a successful, entertaining season in the what is a competitive Championship.
A bit worrying that Finney said we have completed our signings for now, until we know how the season is going to look. Trouble is by then there will probably be no one left to sign.
Wise decision.With relegation in place the only thing going for the promoted club would be to bank £650K of the £1m and just get by on the remainder.Cop the hammerings each week.
A bit worrying that Finney said we have completed our signings for now, until we know how the season is going to look. Trouble is by then there will probably be no one left to sign.
More than enough players this season tbh. Clubs downsizing etc. Picking out the best fit is key rather than just filling the spaces.
I'd be wanting to leave some space available for signings to back the new coach. I hope that not applying this time for SL doesn't mean we are happy to bump along trying to scrape 5th in the Championship.
I think we are right to be cautious on spending given we don’t know for sure what the situation will be with paying spectators in the new season. The squad as it stands looks a bit lacking in depth albeit with some very good players in it but you would hope there’s potential to strengthen at a latter stages.
As for the SL application, it would have been a waste of time. We wouldn’t have got the nod.
Probably the right decision by the club on reflection, particularly as we had no chance of being selected anyway.
All valid points made by Finney and there is clearly still an anti RFL feeling in the club in view of the way the club was treated in 2018. I do wonder just how much of the debt of £1m build up by Bradford prior to the move to Dewsbury in 2019 was unpaid rent to the RFL for the use of Odsal and how much has actually been paid back to RFL.
I do wonder though when the right time will be for us to be in a position to get into SL, with a chance of competing and not struggling to remain in the league. What is the club's ambition for 2021? Finney did say that they aimed to get into SL by competing and winning games. So hopefully, there is an ambition to be competing at the top end of the Championship and aiming for a top 5 finish. It will be difficult to win promotion against the full-time clubs - but it did Widnes no good in 2019 - but I presume that we would take it if we managed to win the play-offs and build from there.
I am looking forward to the 2021 season and watching a Widnes team playing decent rugby and winning more games than they lose - the win ratio in SL as highlighted by Finney was appalling and I can remember going to games just knowing it would be another defeat. Unfortunately, the players also seemed beaten before games. Finney did mention that the club was spending a lot of money in SL - what he disappointedly did not mention was the financial mismanagement of the club and that Directors were paying themselves large salaries that were not justified.
There seems to be an intention to promote some young players from the Academy to the 1st team squad. It will be interesting to see who they are. I agree that we will need to make a few more signings too, but perhaps correct to be cautious at the present time and wait until there is further clarity on the starting date for the 2021 season and when crowds are likely to be allowed back into grounds.
As has been said, SL clubs will be releasing out of contract players and players who would normally be in the reserve team squad, in addition to those released by TWP and Ottawa, so there will be a lot of players looking for a new club in the coming months. I am sure that if Finnigan identified any player that is available and prepared to go part-time, who would strengthen the squad, the club would back him.
The club have looked at the bigger picture.As Finney says, as a new business Widnes have yet to complete a full season of fixtures in the Championship.In 2019 they only took over after the first few games and this year was written off.It’s best that we decide ourselves that we won’t be in SL next year instead of the other way round and allowing the panel to decide for us.
His comment regarding funds denied to the 'new' board, earned by our Academy performances, were very pertinent. The SL want any club, just to balance out their fixtures - for their benefit not ours!
The general employment situation will affect the game generally through supporter's ability to pay and the club's ability to balance budgets. Most clubs are downsizing to some degree already and there will be players available to fit our requirements. Finding them is down to Simon Finnigan!
I guess that he wants a clearer picture on funding based on when/if/ how / how many season tkts are sold. It makes sense to be cautious on new signings until then.
Absolutely correct decision, build a team from now in a resurgent championship.
we should do ok with the squad we have and maybe with a few additions could be play off possibilities
do we want to get promoted, I am not sure because I think SL will be going through some radical changes and I feel we are better off in a stable environment
as others have alluded to the championship may be the new northern union