vikings 4 ever wrote:
And why is that then?
Most Widnes fans have gotten over the licence decision, but I can still see why certain things upset the minority. Go back to when SL was 1st brought in - Widnes were told "no you're not in" then told "yes you've got a place guaranteed" only then to be told "no you're not in". I mean look at some of the sides that were chosen back then: Paris, Workington, Oldham, Sheffield, Halifax. We had been World Champions and Challenge Cup finalists just a few years previously. Fast forward to 2005 and any other year finishing 11th wouldn't have seen you get relegated, Widnes did because the RFL wanted to introduce Catalans. Move on to 2008 and Widnes again get shunned, this time in favour of Celtic. Widnes had one major negative in the licence application, several clubs had quite a few negatives. Widnes were told no SL because of previous finances - what about stadium quality, crowds, youth development etc. When the licence idea 1st came about a lot of people said its a sham and the RFL will just pick who they want regardless of the criteria - most people said it would be the same 12 plus Salford and Celtic before the licences even went in. What was the point in the Widnes chairman spending around a million pound on improving the stadium, when all Salford had to do was hire a portocabin and stand in a field and go "look what were building". Despite people banging on for years about stadium quality, it appears several clubs were given the benefit of the doubt. Widnes weren't given the benefit of the doubt over finances, even with the offer of a half a million pound bond upfront to guarantee security.
Now I have nothing particularly against Celtic, but a) Why can't some other team take the hit next time instead of us and b) Widnes fans may moan a lot but in all honesty we have had quite a lot to moan about - whats the odds Toulouse get a licence ahead of Widnes next time round?
What other side has been shafted by the RFL on 3 seperate occasions: We've been shunned in favour of Paris, Les Catalans and Celtic? Surely we can't get done over again?
Widnes are not a perfect club by any means and we certainly don't have a god given right to SL, but given the fact whats happened in the past, you would hope that the RFL will give us a break. Until then though I'm sure no-one at the club expects to be given any favours, so we'll just have to keep plugging away and banging on the SL door.
Most Widnes fans have gotten over the licence decision, but I can still see why certain things upset the minority. Go back to when SL was 1st brought in - Widnes were told "no you're not in" then told "yes you've got a place guaranteed" only then to be told "no you're not in". I mean look at some of the sides that were chosen back then: Paris, Workington, Oldham, Sheffield, Halifax. We had been World Champions and Challenge Cup finalists just a few years previously. Fast forward to 2005 and any other year finishing 11th wouldn't have seen you get relegated, Widnes did because the RFL wanted to introduce Catalans. Move on to 2008 and Widnes again get shunned, this time in favour of Celtic. Widnes had one major negative in the licence application, several clubs had quite a few negatives. Widnes were told no SL because of previous finances - what about stadium quality, crowds, youth development etc. When the licence idea 1st came about a lot of people said its a sham and the RFL will just pick who they want regardless of the criteria - most people said it would be the same 12 plus Salford and Celtic before the licences even went in. What was the point in the Widnes chairman spending around a million pound on improving the stadium, when all Salford had to do was hire a portocabin and stand in a field and go "look what were building". Despite people banging on for years about stadium quality, it appears several clubs were given the benefit of the doubt. Widnes weren't given the benefit of the doubt over finances, even with the offer of a half a million pound bond upfront to guarantee security.
Now I have nothing particularly against Celtic, but a) Why can't some other team take the hit next time instead of us and b) Widnes fans may moan a lot but in all honesty we have had quite a lot to moan about - whats the odds Toulouse get a licence ahead of Widnes next time round?
What other side has been shafted by the RFL on 3 seperate occasions: We've been shunned in favour of Paris, Les Catalans and Celtic? Surely we can't get done over again?
Widnes are not a perfect club by any means and we certainly don't have a god given right to SL, but given the fact whats happened in the past, you would hope that the RFL will give us a break. Until then though I'm sure no-one at the club expects to be given any favours, so we'll just have to keep plugging away and banging on the SL door.
I feel for you guys as you should have got the super League licence last year but you was shafted by the RFL. Been a big Halifax fan Im happy with the steps we are making but feel we are not ready for The super League yet and have a plan in place to be ready next time the licences are handed out (this of course means even if we are ready we probably still wont get in) so if they is to be a place in Super League next year then Widnes should get it because of their ground, attendances, History and the fact they have be robed by the RFL so many times in the past. If of course they is not a vacant spot in super League next year then I would love to see Widnes and Halifax both getting in next time around but sadly I cant see this happening as they is just no justice in this sport.
