just read that they could be going part time ? www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.c ... -23557149/

just read that they could be going part time ? www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.c ... -23557149/

Well they might aswell not stay full time.

And where does it say that the team will all be part-time?

Cullen has already said that the assumption that the team are all full-time is totally incorrect.

I quote: “We also have issues with the training situation as we are losing players on a daily basis due to work commitments and it is something I intend to do something about.”

He added: “The concept that Widnes is a full-time training club simply does not exist and so we may even do what Halifax and Barrow do, which is to essentially have night-time training sessions.”

So he intends to change the training times of the team. How does that equate to a team becoming part-time?

Of course, this is all academical. The team that was put together by Steve McCormack has been shown up for what it is and quite rightly they are well off the pace in games and in the league table. Too many players have been signed who just don't have the heart for the game at that club. Whether this is down to the coaching staff, the owner (there is no board) or even themselves is open to speculation. It's the fans I feel for, being one myself.

But none of this should detract from the outstanding performances put in so far this season by Halifax, Barrow, Featherstone, Leigh and Whitehaven. Doncaster and Sheffield have been unlucky when they have played Widnes as the games could have gone either way. The league table doesn't lie.

I think Cullen and Ste O'Connor are well aware of the serious situation we have found ourselves in and will make changes where ever they can. Whether this will be in time to save any face this season I don't know!! But the team are going to have to face the fact that they set themselves out to be one of if not the team in the league this year and so far they have fallen well short of the mark!! It just goes to show that if your team has the determination to succeed, no matter if they are full time or part, if they are a team of well known names or unknowns, you can achieve your goals. A lesson I think for most players currently at Widnes.

if widnes players are working, then training at nite time does that not make them part time???

Sean, your quote was that "they" are going part-time. The article doesn't say that.

Some players in our squad are part-time but not all. The change to evening training sessions is to allow all players, full and part-time to train together.

It still dosen't change the fact that we are rubbish at the moment but hopefully these changes may improve things.

I can only hope.

Perhaps if their coach didn't spend so much time being the SKY live broadcast games' analyst he'd be able to prepare his team better for their games.

exactly what i thought. the irony in his arguments grows with each appearence

Now, that's a fair comment. You can also add TOC to that list as well.

If people aren't fully committed to the cause then they are taking up time and money that could be better served.

Solly fans were saying the same about Bomber last season.

TOC has been on SKY on at least 2 occasions when Widnes have, I couldn't imagine Martin Hall doing it when Fax are on.

with cullen and o,conner on the t.v all the time it raises the awareness of the widnes team and gives an unfair advantage over other championship sides.
maybe thats why sky do it.

How does that work then? In what respect does it give them an advantage? Certainly not on the pitch. Indeed, all their presence does at the moment is highlight and remind everyone how bad Widnes are. I'd say that's advantage other Championship clubs at the moment.

advantage in the way they get contacts etc for when franchise time comes around again. keeps them in contact with the right people.

Eddie Hemmings??

Ben Proe??

I can remember years ago when Mal Reilly was away the night before the game, down South I believe before Sky was invented. We were playing at Thrum Hall can`t remember who against but he just arrived back at the kick off. The fact he had left the team to talk on the telly sent shock waves around the ground everbody was furious . It has stuck in my mind ever since can`t remember if we won but do remember everyone was not best pleased.

I think that's a very tenuous link. The things that will make the RFL sit up and take note are: trophies won, good attendances achieved and "location,location,location". We can control two of those. As Meatloaf said - "two outta three aint bad".

Unfortunately the one we can't control holds more weight with the RFL.

Yep - you may be right. Success and attendances aside, i can only ever see us being let back in as a straight swap for another Yorkshire club.

And that leaves Wakey or Cas realistically, lets hope neither of them have a new ground when the next round of applications come around.

And what part of TOC's job suffers as part of being a pundit on SKY.. or even for Cullen for that matter.

There is a lot of tosh being written at the moment about us when the fact remains that we thought we recruited well.. it turns out we haven't. We have a number of injuries which are hurting us. The training programme introduced by McCormack which is another reason we try to play games on Friday night isn't sufficient.

The article above shows that this has been recognised and will hopefully be remedied.

Good academy structure??? Finances??

I bet your more solvent than most but what are you going to do about the youth set up.. wait til the last minute and then round up some kids on a park??

We've introduced an academy this year (i think) to get kids at a younger age. We previously had the best under 21's outside of SL but not enough of them were good enough for the first team, only James Haley and Andy Bowman have come through in recent years.

Yep.
In the meantime we'll try and jump the main hurdle for handing in an application - the first graders to win something or appear in a GF. We romped the reserve grade grand finals two years in a row. It won't take long to get that back, considering we're in a hotbed of young talent in and around the Calderdale area - Siddal being the Minor premiers again this year.

And the penalty for breach of contract is........

Leigh won the u21s League on both occassions,you just happened to play more First Teamers in the Grand Final Teams.Over a full 2 years period I think you'll find that Leigh had a much better wins v loss ratio than Fax and the other teams in the league.

By the way Fax are the best team in the big boys league this season ,no doubt, but winning the GF is still a big ask and anything can happen over an 80 minute game be it in the semis or Final.

I also think who wins the league or GF in 2011 should go up if they meet the criteria set,no arguments then.