Reasons to be cheerful : Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:10 pm  

Posted this on the VT but thought I would put it here as it made me feel good compiling it..


Not really promises... that accusation can be levelled at some of the teams currently resting on their laurels until the panic sets in again of the next franchise process and we see all sort of pictures being produced and surveys being touted..

Since Mr O'Connor took over...
£1.5 million investment in infrastructure of club inc extensive refurbishment of stadium
Restructuring of management level
New state of the art website featuring multi media facilities
New Town centre and Stadium based shops with wide selection of merchandise
Deals struck to ensure exposure with City Talk FM and Stobarts
New revenue generating measures inc lottery scheme, hospitality packages and club organised events.
A lot of work undertaken on fan analysis and target marketing including a strategy to market to south Liverpool and south Cheshire areas.

Continued investment in youth structures including appointment of Stuart Wilkinson and the development of a pathway course with Edge Hill University
Continued development of youngsters that has seen former stars Richie Myler and Adam Sidlow progress. Current team includes 6 club developed youngsters including Paddy Flynn (currently being monitored by Saints).

Largest attendance record for a National League match...
Plus assurances made to the RFL in the form of a £500k cash bond against future administration.

Award winning Community scheme.

There isn't one area of the club that hasn't been reinvigorated in the last 18 months or so even down to the food served at the stadium, the new ticketing system on match days, the e-season tickets and the introduction of a licence to consume alcohol in the stands.
In comparison to other clubs a hell of a lot has been achieved and despite everything the club has been through there is still a substantial fan base, (a large number of which are season ticket holders) and the potential to hit the magic 10k figure seems easily achievable if we were granted a SL licence.

Oh and I haven't mentioned the tradition and history of the club Wink

What would Widnes bring to SL.. some fresh ideas and a new perspective other than the small northern town mentality that some clubs are struggling with. Steve O'Connor is a clever businessman and has good links with a number of other chairman and is already respected by many in the game and the media for the way he handled himself with dignity following the decision on the 22/07.

This isn't a dig or an attempt to be bitter with the exception of the first two lines.. but just to demonstrate that Widnes are more than a team with a nice stadium

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:48 pm  

reasons not to be cheerful, at the moment we could not score even unopposed.

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:08 pm  

No Frills Viking wrote:

reasons not to be cheerful, at the moment we could not score even unopposed.

But you wouldn't lose by as many

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:41 pm  

No Frills Viking wrote:

reasons not to be cheerful, at the moment we could not score even unopposed.

they could not even score in a brothel. ha ha

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:11 am  

No reasons to be happy at all. We are crap. Sack the board, coach, entire playing squad and bring back Colin Whitfield. Surely Paul Mannson fancies a game?

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:25 pm  

Big up what the club have done but maybe they should look at the core of the business and see if certain individuals want the club to be a success.

Or maybe just want to keep themselves fit turn up on match days do the basics on the pitch and get paid.

Even doing the basics on the pitch needs looking into

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:56 pm  

Just to add to In EnemyTerritory's fabulous post. The race to the next round of licensing is a marathon, not a sprint. For those looking at on-field performances as a guide to franchise success or failure - there's approximately 80 matches to play before the next "F" day. You've played 11 of those. You shouldn't need a Yarkshire scrote to come on here and point out the obvious - perspective. Same in reverse goes for my club. However, same doesn't go to those building promised stadiums as they take much longer to finish.

Just a thought.

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:43 pm  

littlerich wrote:

Just to add to In EnemyTerritory's fabulous post. The race to the next round of licensing is a marathon, not a sprint. For those looking at on-field performances as a guide to franchise success or failure - there's approximately 80 matches to play before the next "F" day. You've played 11 of those. You shouldn't need a Yarkshire scrote to come on here and point out the obvious - perspective. Same in reverse goes for my club. However, same doesn't go to those building promised stadiums as they take much longer to finish.

Just a thought.

Perfectly put Mr Littlerich

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:11 pm  

Top o' t'league.

: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:26 pm  

littlerich wrote:

Just to add to In EnemyTerritory's fabulous post. The race to the next round of licensing is a marathon, not a sprint. For those looking at on-field performances as a guide to franchise success or failure - there's approximately 80 matches to play before the next "F" day. You've played 11 of those. You shouldn't need a Yarkshire scrote to come on here and point out the obvious - perspective. Same in reverse goes for my club. However, same doesn't go to those building promised stadiums as they take much longer to finish.

Just a thought.

I think the problem is that, if we don't do enough to qualify to put in a 2011 licence bid in this year, we are going to be in a desperate situation next year. The pressure would then be immense. Just imagine; a club with everything in place needed to meet the licence criteria, but is unable to even apply? All those great points raised by IET will count for nothing!

The plan was to start to blood some of our youngsters this year, do enough to be able to put a bid in for 2011, then we can relax and begin to blood even more youngsters in 2010 and 2011. This would then help us to meet the home grown criterion and provide us with a squad of players that'll have the passion for the club to compete in SL

Unless performances improve, we will remain the 3rd or 4th best team in this league, and will not achieve our important goal of qualifying for a licence bid. All our plans for developing our junior players will then go out of the window, in a desperate attempt to qualify in 2010.

On an individual basis, we have some very good players. But the squad, as a whole, lacks balance. The previous coach spent our full salary cap and f****d it up badly.