WIDNES will be without a team in Rugby League’s Super League, after the town’s Vikings lost out on a place for the third time after being pipped at the post by Salford City Reds and Celtic Crusaders in its bid for the top flight.

The Vikings are “devastated” by the decision and say they need time to “reflect and evaluate” their position after the news rocked Stobart Stadium Halton.

Everyone connected with the club thought they had done enough to seal a place in Super League at the third time of asking after originally being excluded in 1996 and relegated by the RFL in 2005 at the expense of French outfit Catalans Dragons.

Chairman Steve O’Connor has expressed his huge disappointment at the Rugby Football League’s decision not to award the club a Super League Licence for 2009 but has assured supporters he will be staying to “complete the job I’ve started”.

Mr O’Connor said: “We’ve only just been informed of the RFL’s decision which is obviously deeply disappointing to the Board, officials, players and fans of this great club.

“We now need to sit down and assess the full implications of this ruling over the next few days. However, it is important that our fans are reassured I am fully committed to Widnes Vikings.

“We obviously find ourselves in National League for a further three seasons but we will look at the feedback from the RFL and see where we went wrong as at this moment in time we are a bit baffled to where we fell down if anywhere.

“When I took over the club last November, I told supporters I was in for the long haul – and I meant that.

“I believe we put together a very strong application, despite the fact we were working against the backdrop of a club that had gone into Administration under previous ownership.

“That was a fact of life and a big negative for us but it was something we had to work around.

“There was great competition for these 14 licences. I feel it is vital for the game as a whole that the Super League flourishes under this new licence system and I’m still convinced Widnes Vikings have all the credentials to become a powerful force in Super League.

“The fans have been fantastic and I share their disappointment but it is essential we retain their support. I would like to record my special thanks to Halton Borough Council and in particular council leader Tony McDermott and chief executive David Parr who have been unswerving in their support for Widnes Vikings.

“I know the council are as disappointed as me at this turn of events but we are determined to carry on with our work and clinch the place in Super League which we all believe Widnes Vikings so richly deserves.”