Steve O’Connor takes Viking's Super League license denial news on the chin

Jul 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

NEW Widnes Viking owner Steve O’Connor took the news of being denied license to the engage Super League on the chin yesterday.

Catalans Dragons and Celtic Crusaders denied Widnes Vikings a place and RFL bosses hope Celtic Crusaders can emulate their achievements after being handed a three-year licence.

Salford City Reds were the other big winners when the RFL revealed the eagerly-awaited list of 14 clubs who will operate in the top flight from 2009-11.

They got the vote ahead of Widnes, Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax and Toulouse, while the 12 current clubs were all re-admitted with three-year safety nets.

Licences were awarded based on a number of criteria, including stadia, fanbase and financial and playing strength.

Salford, who based their application on their location and a move to a revenue-generating state-of-the-art stadium, were expected to get the nod while the Crusaders’ elevation came at the expense of Widnes and instantly drew fierce criticism from Leigh chief executive Allan Rowley.

O’Connor, who took the club out of administration in November, insisted the club would bounce back and re-apply for a place in Super League when the licence system in reviewed in 2011.

“We must build on the solid foundations we have laid down over the past eight months and prepare an absolutely irresistible licence application for the future,” he said.

“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 that Widnes Vikings have all the credentials to become a powerful force in Super League.”