Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:39 pm  

Echo Bullseyes comments. The uncertainty is the worst. If you follow Mick Gledhill on twitter (or similar "in the knows") I would mute them for the next few months. There will be plenty of "I'm hearing a billionaire is in talks to take over Widnes" only for nothing to happen.

The next 12-18 months might be hell. You may have to endure a depleted squad getting battered every week as you head towards inevitable relegation.

But at the end if you can get some honest owners, who re-engage with the fans, hopefully you can enjoy the club and rugby again. Good luck!

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:43 pm  

One of the best memories I have from RL was due to the generosity of a Widnes fan. In the 1989 Premiership final, Hull KR v Oldham (2nd Division final) was the precursor to the Widnes v Bradford Northern match. At halftime in the Rovers match, I went to get a drink and while queuing a Widnes fan slightly bumped into me( I was a kid at the time) so he bought me a drink to say sorry. Always had a soft spot for Widnes after that.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:11 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

If you go into admin I think losing players is inevitable. We learned that 3 times over.

However, you have a decent sized squad, a good academy and many other clubs have spent their budgets. That means it won't be an immediate mass exodus. The main priority is finding a new owner. Then see where you are then. You'll probably see a few leave in dribs and drabs. Especially if money is needed to cover the salaries of the rest.

I guess my advice would be to forget about the short term and this season and think long term. Having a club is the main priority.

Unless the RFL bring in what they did with Crusaders, where salaries and oversees status was scrapped to enable the players to continue to have an occupation. Hull KR got Lincoln Withers and Ryan O'Hara as a result of the Crusaders colapse, and the majority of the Crusaders squad found new teams. It would be a shame for Widnes to lose their top players in this way, and will only add to the disaster that unfolds.

Good luck and i genuinly hope you come out the other end in a better position, as most have mentioned, Widnes is a hotbed for Rugby League.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:16 pm  

It's just a little gut wrenching, like the Bulls fans know all too familiar, we were in the same boat 11 years ago. SOC takes over and talks nothing other than sustainability but the last 4-5 years have been painful.

I know there's a place for the people of Widnes in profesisonal rugby league whether that's Superleague or Championship. The fans in Widnes love rugby more than anything but you can't choose your own owners i guess. We're currently fielding 10 home grown players week in, week out in our 17, that will probably have to be 17 soon enough.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:12 pm  

robinrovers10 wrote:

Unless the RFL bring in what they did with Crusaders, where salaries and oversees status was scrapped

They were granted exemptions from any overseas/fed quotas, but they didn't 'scrap' their salaries.
Any club looking to sign a Widnes player will still need the funds available to pay them!

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:23 pm  

Can't believe that Widnes have had to postpone the Sheffield game...makes our (Leigh's) situation last season, not seem so bad. Really hope they can get out of this mess 'soon' although administration and a 12 points deduction looks likely. When I was a kid went to so may Widnes games in the 7o's and early 80's (even though I am a Leigh fan) and Naughton Park was rammed full with spectators, and a constant stream of fantastic players. Lots of local talent (Mick Burke, Keith Elwell, Tony Myler, Ray Dutton etc) plus all the ex Rugby Union stars. Guess it's a bit like Bradfod Northern/Bulls, used to be a massive club, lots of trophies, but now it's a totally different ball game.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:45 pm  

I started watching rugby league in the 90s.

It may be that my memory fails me, but I do not recall Widnes ever doing anything of note on the pitch, nor having a fan base of note.

Sort of one of those clubs that dines out on former glories.

Will be a shame to see them go but would rather have someone like Catalans / Toronto / Toulouse bringing in half decent attendances and adding to the profile of the game, rather than yet another M62 yo-yo team playing in front of one man and his dog.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:52 pm  

The Video Ref wrote:

I started watching rugby league in the 90s.

It may be that my memory fails me, but I do not recall Widnes ever doing anything of note on the pitch, nor having a fan base of note.

Sort of one of those clubs that dines out on former glories.

Will be a shame to see them go but would rather have someone like Catalans / Toronto / Toulouse bringing in half decent attendances and adding to the profile of the game, rather than yet another M62 yo-yo team playing in front of one man and his dog.

Latter part of the 1970s through to late 1980s was their best period. You missed it.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 6:02 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Echo Bullseyes comments. The uncertainty is the worst. If you follow Mick Gledhill on twitter (or similar "in the knows") I would mute them for the next few months. There will be plenty of "I'm hearing a billionaire is in talks to take over Widnes" only for nothing to happen.

The next 12-18 months might be hell. You may have to endure a depleted squad getting battered every week as you head towards inevitable relegation.

But at the end if you can get some honest owners, who re-engage with the fans, hopefully you can enjoy the club and rugby again. Good luck!

Totally agree with the two Bulls' fans on this. As a Leyther, I can vouch that it is painful and distressing. Personally, I found the words of these guys comforting, during our recent troubles. And, touch wood, they were right about us. Here's hoping for a similar miracle coming the Vikings' way.

Re: Widnes : Thu Feb 21, 2019 6:05 pm  

Huddersfield, Wakefield, Widnes, Leigh, Salford, London.

I do not recall any of these sides ever generating a decent average attendance and they have had about 4 good seasons between them in the last 20 or so years.

What exactly do they bring to the game? Would we miss them if they vanished?