Revealed: Why Widnes Vikings missed out on Super League place

Jul 26 2008 Nick Smith

WIDNES VIKINGS failed to gain entry into Super League because of the financial failings of the club’s previous owners.

The Vikings went into administration following their failure to win last October’s National League Grand Final, which would have meant automatic promotion, and were deducted nine points from this season’s campaign as a result.

Although new owner Steve O’Connor has since launched a new company and offered to personally underwrite the club’s Super League licence application, it came too late to secure a place for 2009, with Salford and Celtic Crusaders landing the two spots in an expanded League.

O’Connor today led a delegation from Widnes in a two-and-a-half hour meeting with RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis, chief executive Nigel Wood and in-house lawyer Rod Findlay to thrash out the reasons for Widnes’ omission.

O’Connor said: “It was essential to get around the table with the RFL as quickly as possible to discover the reasoning behind our failure to secure a Super League licence this time around.

“The RFL have recognised that, in the period since my management team and I took over the operation, our organisational performance rates are amongst the best in the league.

“Unfortunately, our impressive track record is only eight months old and we are still suffering from the points penalty of the former organisation going into administration.

“It would appear the Super League Licence process came just too early for our new set-up and there was not an appropriate length of time in the RFL’s opinion to be satisfied of our long-term stability.”

Lewis said: “Our meeting with Steve O’Connor and the management team of Widnes Vikings was part of a series of meetings with all clubs following the announcement of the licensing results.

“It was an extremely productive meeting with both parties keen to exchange information and conducted in an amicable and very constructive manner.

“I remain extremely impressed with the professionalism and approach of management team currently in place in Widnes. Under the stewardship of Steve they are clearly heading in the right direction.”

“For the supporters it is understandably disappointing for them that the club is still paying the price of its previous owners.

“They should though be reassured and confident that with the current management team Widnes Vikings will be in a far stronger position in two years time when the club can apply again for a Super League licence.”