SIGNIFICANT investment in rugby league club Widnes Vikings saw its parent company Widnes Sport lose nearly £1m as it relaunched the club after administration.

The club was bought by Steve O’Connor in November, 2007, months after he sold haulage firm O’Connor Group to Stobart.

Widnes Sport’s accounts, for the 13 months to November 30, 2008, showed turnover was £916,751, but it lost £986,381.

Mr O’Connor, Widnes Sport chairman – who is also Stobart Port's managing director – said he was “in it for the long haul” when he took over the club, and he will look for some of the significant investments incurred in its first year to reap benefits in the medium and long term.

These include £840,000 investment in tangible fixed assets and a further £250,000 in youth development.

He said: “Year one was always going to be a period of much-needed investment in infrastructure, personnel and processes.

“Outstanding payroll, commissions and rugby league debts from the previous club had to be settled in order to receive a playing licence.”

Widnes won the World Club Championship in 1989 with a team that included Martin Offiah and Jonathan Davies, but the club has performed poorly financially for most of the intervening two decades and has played in only four of the 14 Super League seasons after the sport switched to summer.

It lost out on a Super League licence for 2009-11 – which saw the company incur “significant professional consultancy and marketing costs” – but is focused on securing a place in the next round of licences, for 2012-14.

Mr O’Connor added: “The directors are comfortable that the current year’s results will demonstrate a significant improvement.

“Along with our developing fan base, we will look towards further innovations to be in a much stronger position for the 2012 application process.”

ALEX TURNER