Widnes Vikings have had what is an appalling season in the co-operative championship. I can’t comment on anything other than their final position in the table and their form in the play offs. Ok there’s going to be a lot of personnel changes but is this really acceptable?

Finishing fifth in the table and going out of the play offs with a 36 – 20 defeat to Sheffield Eagles is an absolute travesty considering where there going to be next year. Anyhow I’m sure that this will be the defining point in whenever franchises work. All the best Widnes fans for super league but shame on your squad of players for the way they bowed out of the Co-Operative championship!

Their fans are great, it's been a pleasure playing them and having the banter over the last few years. The club has a cracking stadium, good financial backing and some decent players.

Their coach is a complete tool. Hasn't got a clue.

Not often I agree with a loyner but:























Widnes do not deserve a SL spot 1 bit IMO.

Call me old fashioned but unless you finish top of the league promotion shouldn't be an option.
It just grates on fans of SL clubs who worked bloody hard to graft their way in.

Agree Jonny - their fans are fantastic. O'Connor the club's boss man has done exactly what the RFL asked of him.

Damo - you need to direct your post towards the RFL who have set out the playing field on which this type of thing can happen. Basically, stuff like this doesn't matter, apart from the feelings of the poor fans who have had to endure the uneventful last three years.

You can't have a go at Widnes really, the RFL set out the rules, Widnes adhered to them and got promoted. If the rules were the best team on the pitch got promoted, then Widnes would have a better team now because they would have put more emphasis on the team, rather than off the field things.

Possibly not Jonny. There's a £300k cap - what could O'Connor's millions have done with that?

Fair point mate. Maybe he should have spent a few quid paying Millward or Noble to take over.

None of the current teams in Superleague are there because of on field performances - every single one of them is there because they were granted a licence by the RFL

going out of your way to ignore the realities of the current set up does not in itself constitute making an insightful or even relevant point.

I'm a Wakey fan and I've no axe to grind with Widnes, despite them being the team tipped to be replaced in Super League by them.

They had three years to sort themselves out and did just that. I believe in year one they got the on-field qualification element sorted and the rest of the time was spent sorting the off field qualification issues.

They did what was asked of them so why spend the last two years throwing money at a side that could win the Championship when they new that barring a disaster they would be back in Super League, and that many of the players they signed in that period would not be coming with them into Super League.

Good luck to them

Despite a majority of fans wanting Betts and Cullen out, they were probably dealt an unfair hand of cards towards the end of the season. They went something like 10 matches unbeaten until a real tight game against a good Leigh side in August, but since, have had to tell most of the squad that their futures lie elswhere. It took a direct effect on the field with their last five results all being extremely disappointing.

Damo, the biggest idiot on RL FANS, a jobless scrote.

Ok so investing millions into the infrastructure of the club, the stadium, the youth and community set up to create sustainable business suitable for a super league franchise isn't hard work... You're right, shame on Widnes for all the 'hard graft' in producing a club that met the criteria set before them over the last three years..

Until you've been in the position Widnes have been in since 2009, then you've no right to comment on how we've faired in the Championship.

From since when does any team need a welcome? We're here and there's nowt you can do about it son so get used to it and shut up you tart!

Not to mention making million pound profits at the same time

Maybe we should have cheated the cap like others so we could be more competitive.

True

Of course it isn't. What you should be doing is scraping by round the bottom of the table, almost going out of business and getting a new licence by the skin of your teeth because another club got told to withdraw their application because they weren't going to get anywhere with it.

Widnes unwelcome in SL. Yeah, that'll be right. Looking forward to seeing you guys next season.

I'm glad they're back in Super League. Their application was no doubt streets ahead of the others.

Oh I don't know , when you finally get into the new stadium and don't have to borrow the Stobart , you should be on a par with them

I think that some (especially Widnes) fans miss the gist of my opening post. The title was asking a question rather than straight out saying that Widnes Vikings aren’t welcome. Plus I also wished the Widnes fans all the best for super league.

All this thread is doing is questioning a few things. Looks like I’ve got off to a bad start with a few people so let’s build bridges from hereon in. Some interesting points have been made and that’s what forums are for. Certainly not the slag fest that I’ve received!

It was a nonsense question designed to provoke anger rather than thought.

So I reiterate. Shut up you tart!

Millions, Cap or not Rich, SOC would have invested 300k in 1st team alone if the criteria was promotion and relegation (Which it should be in my book) but as you said he has run 5 teams since 2008 application and done everything the RFL have asked and that includes the famous "ticking of the box" in our NR Cup win at the 1st possible chance of doing so. I personally think if Leigh have true asperations of SL next time around they will also follow WV lead and allow a dip in 1st team form to compensate fulfilling other criteria in Academys/U15s/U16s/off field criteria. Halifax need to re tick that box (ie win something) and then get there youth set ups going again. IMO 300k wont run a totally succesful club as in a all winning 1st team AND youth etc