Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:37 pm  

Chris B wrote:

I don't see it being any different to the last time around. All clubs bar one will need to submit applications for 13 spots.. if you don't you're not in.. if you do then you will have to waive your right to legal dispute.

As for the leaks.. they will happen.. but quite often they are not leaks at all. Simply people guessing and spouting their opinions. In terms of staggering the decision making process. I think it is an excellent decision. The newly promoted club needs to play catch up and this time is priceless. I often thought that when promotion and relegation were about that the Champ season should end well before the SL season so that the promoted team had an opportunity to prepare and ready themselves.

There were certainly plenty of things they could have tried before calling an end to P & R and introducing this farce of a system. One was, like you've said, ending the season earlier to give people time. Another is very simple, something that works in football, a transfer window which begins after the grand final and continues on until the start of the season. Or giving the newly promoted a one season grace period. There are plenty of things they could have tried and didn't. Probably because licensing benefits the chosen a lot more than P & R and that fixing the old system would have made licensing more difficult to introduce.

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:32 am  

We had some builders working on our house yesterday who were from Widnes, i was passing conversation with them and we got onto rugby league. One of the lads said that he knew someone high up at Widnes and this is what he said.

This isn`t official of course, apparently you are either starting work or have finished work on a Sky TV hospitality area/function room at a cost of around £50k - £80k. I`m not sure if that includes a new commentary position, anyway thats the first part what he told me.

Secondly he said that you have already had the go ahead with your SL franchise and that the council are going to spend quite a bit of money on some areas that raised concerns, again thats not official as its just what he told me in conversation.

I hope the above turns out to be correct and that you get a SL franchise, i'm sure you will anyway as you have the backers, the stadium, a good potential SL fan base and in time you can get stronger on the pitch.

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:47 am  

I work for a furnishings trimmings company and i can confirm that we have taken measurements of Eddie and Stevo's butt for the manufacture of soft black and white cushions for the said Sky Room. The name on the order is Mr S.O.C Stobbnes. Hmmm

Widnes are certainly pulling out all the stops. All you need now is a jacuzzi for Woody - just to hammer home the application. I hear Cuerdley Marsh is being sought after for that very purpose.

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:05 pm  

Rob Wire wrote:

We had some builders working on our house yesterday who were from Widnes, i was passing conversation with them and we got onto rugby league. One of the lads said that he knew someone high up at Widnes and this is what he said.

This isn`t official of course, apparently you are either starting work or have finished work on a Sky TV hospitality area/function room at a cost of around £50k - £80k. I`m not sure if that includes a new commentary position, anyway thats the first part what he told me.

Secondly he said that you have already had the go ahead with your SL franchise and that the council are going to spend quite a bit of money on some areas that raised concerns, again thats not official as its just what he told me in conversation.

I hope the above turns out to be correct and that you get a SL franchise, i'm sure you will anyway as you have the backers, the stadium, a good potential SL fan base and in time you can get stronger on the pitch.

That would make sense tbh! As Sky whinged about our gantry hence why when on TV they smack a custom travelling one in our main stand so you would of thought to please the pay masters and attract more stuff like semi finals and maybe internationals that a nice place for camera men's butties and big wigs seating would make sense for all!

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:06 pm  

littlerich wrote:

I work for a furnishings trimmings company and i can confirm that we have taken measurements of Eddie and Stevo's butt for the manufacture of soft black and white cushions for the said Sky Room. The name on the order is Mr S.O.C Stobbnes. Hmmm

Widnes are certainly pulling out all the stops. All you need now is a jacuzzi for Woody - just to hammer home the application. I hear Cuerdley Marsh is being sought after for that very purpose.

That's be a typhoon then!

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:08 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Having a million pound turnover in a season is relatively easy for any club , any decent accountant could ' filter ' money through an account to achieve it

That is providing you were aware of this requirement in sufficient time to do it

I would guess that some [ a ] clubs knew about this , and some [ the rest ] clubs didn't

Similarily , the 2,500 average crowd ' criteria ' only seems to have reared it's ugly head a couple of months ago

It would seem to me that your poor on field performance might have unnerved certain people in power resulting in a little fine tuning , not that this bothers me as it just means that only you will not be wasting money actually submitting an application

This is not a ' pop ' at your good selves or your proud club

As usual we [ the rest ] have been treated as idiots

Good isn't it

All the best

Wether figures are fiddled or not Widnes do not have the turnover required never mind how close to the required figure that might be. Are you suggesting the RFL are incompetant ? Maybe for example Barrow could tell them their average crowd is 2902 not 1902 and fiddle their turnover figures too.

Am I in the minority in thinking honesty is the best policy ?

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:12 pm  

frankb wrote:

Wether figures are fiddled or not Widnes do not have the turnover required never mind how close to the required figure that might be. Are you suggesting the RFL are incompetant ? Maybe for example Barrow could tell them their average crowd is 2902 not 1902 and fiddle their turnover figures too.

Am I in the minority in thinking honesty is the best policy ?

True and that's what Widnes seem to be doing this season with crowds especially! Also we have had no free ticket offers this season so I guess that is to say... look here's are avaerage crowds and with not a single discount ticket on show either!

In terms of 1mill we were very close last time and have added 4/5 sponsors since then anyway! Hard to fiddle books as need to go through tax man as well!

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:53 pm  

I think you deserve a franchise. The way your club seems to be run is similar to Wigan since IL took over. You have the stadia and youth set up in place. But i think SL should have a presence in Cumbria, if it is 1 in 1 out i hope Barrow get it. FWIW i'd like to see Yourselves and Barrow replace Castleford and Wakefield.

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 6:03 pm  

frankb wrote:

Wether figures are fiddled or not Widnes do not have the turnover required never mind how close to the required figure that might be. Are you suggesting the RFL are incompetant ? Maybe for example Barrow could tell them their average crowd is 2902 not 1902 and fiddle their turnover figures too.

Am I in the minority in thinking honesty is the best policy ?

We are honest and we have alot more in place than Fax,Barrow or Leigh.We are in pole postion,and we deserve to be after all our badluck.We have suffered enough this year.But a Northern Rail final for a poor season and what have Leigh done? All i here from leigh and fax is moaning.

Re: The future of Widnes Vikings : Fri Aug 06, 2010 6:12 pm  

OFFTHECUFF wrote:

All i here from leigh and fax is moaning.

Not from me - i've supported your push for SL on many threads. What i find lamentable is the parody that you'll finish in seventh spot this year and get the license. That's not the fault of Widnes. I lay the blame entirely at the door of the RFL. It's their system that allows you to do this. Had you not won the NRC i'm damn sure you'd have had a squad this year that would have swept all before them aside. SOC has played the cards dealt to him correctly but it does nothing for the credibility of any "sport".

Oh, and Leigh and Fax should start with capital letters. Where's your respect !!