Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 2:00 pm  

At an attempt to get some activity on this board, Betts extends his contract to 2017.

Due to Widnes' model over the last few years, continuity and stability is the key and has seen a progression from 14th, to 10th and then 8th.

It's of no surprise Betts gets an extension because he deserves one.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 3:14 pm  

Not wanting to prompt responses like the dire "Has Denis Betts improved the Squad thread" on the TIW Board. I see this as quite a logical thing for the Club to do. Denis has that 3 year assurance as to his future and he can continue with his long term vision, which has paid dividends and is really the only way a Club like Widnes can move forward in a planned way.

We just dont get the bums on seats to generate sufficient revenue for several big signings each season and whilst I am sure more could be done to market the Club, it is a shame that there hasn't been a more positive response from the people of Halton and beyond.

We tried speculating with the Gareth Hock signing, which hardly registered at the turnstiles, so evolution will have to be the name of the game.

My guess is the financing of the Club is all about fine margins and 2014 budgets will probably have been set based on a small anticipated increase in crowds, which of course we didn't get, then we got hit by the crowd trouble, which can't have been great for attracting fresh sponsors. then the fine itself will have hit hard. The Club presumably is set up to make a modest trading loss that is made good by the directors, when the gap ends up as being tens of thousands of pounds more than anticipated, that has got to be found!

Whilst it would be great to have several top drawer signings each year, I am content with to see a few quality additions arrive and to see young players and established players kick on with their development, rather than going bust by overextending ourselves.

In a way we have gone back to basics like the Widnes teams of old with home grown and developed players. We are fortunate that we have managed to bring in quite a few quality players from elsewhere to help make up for the time it takes to get our "home trained" production line up to speed and we have got to be realistic that not every home developed player is going to make it, so we have got to maintain a mixture.

Denis has shown a level of devotion and commitment to this approach and whilst he may have a few tactical deficiencies, I doubt there is anybody better at getting the best out of the squad and creating a strong team ethic!

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:20 pm  

Its a sensible decision, he's made steady progress in his coaching just like the team and for what Widnes spend overall (lowest in super league) he's managed to get a strong group together. Even a great league coach would struggle to improve Widnes more than what Denis has done with the players available.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:53 pm  

Well deserved and the right thing to do. I thought he was the wrong man for the job but he proved me wrong big time. Anyone who thinks we have not improved under him is either a WUM or they do not attend the games

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:02 pm  

Surprised with the Widnes Trust site down that more are not on this site. I think with our finances that stability and continuity is best. Wish our marketing was better, and could get an extra 1000 through the gates.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:56 pm  

He deffo deserves the new contract.

I hope this year we can be a little more expansive rather than rely on 5 drives and a kick though

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:17 pm  

Betts has done a really good job and surprised a lot of people (me included) with the rate of progress. I'm pleased he's secured a new contact and can continue with the good work. For a team without a 'big' following or a top playing budget, we can be justly proud of our achievements since returning to SL.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:26 pm  

Scouse a lot has been done great at the club, but I hope they can improve the marketing next year. To attract an extra 1000 on average would help big time, and if can develop youngster we could have a bright future under Betts.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:59 am  

OFFTHECUFF wrote:

Scouse a lot has been done great at the club, but I hope they can improve the marketing next year. To attract an extra 1000 on average would help big time, and if can develop youngster we could have a bright future under Betts.

The best marketing in sport is done on the pitch.

We had an excellent opportunity to market our club in the challenge cup semi final and we blew it big time both on and off the field. We've done well since then getting club of the year, but we need a quality product on the field to be getting 8,9K gates regularly.

Re: Betts 1 year extention : Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:41 am  

Not gonna happen AJ,the town is just too small.I know Warrington managed to add 4 thousand to their gates but they have a much larger population to go at than we do and with the best will in the world there is little to no interest in the surrounding areas.The best we can do is to attract the 500 or 600 stay aways who are interested in the team and the game but no longer attend but even that is proving difficult.That and enticing more supporters of the opposition team.
Regarding the contract extension it would be nice to see Denis getting the best from more of his players like he did with Leuluai and Flynn.Players such as Kav,Johnson and Craven.A decent kicking game wouldn't go amiss either.