Try doing those trips pretyy much every other week with Sunday transport services!

Why the confidence in Widnes?

Because we rule thats why, bow down to the lancashire!

Aren't you in Meeeeeeerseyside?

Come 'ed aaar khhid.

Interesting read this thread, to get different opinions by, in my opinion, 'the competition'. I think Barrow are nowhere near, not a swipe, just my opinion, though they have come extremely far in such a short space of time and fair play to them.

I think many fans opinions will be based on what they see at their own club, Widnes fans know what Widnes have done towards this bid as we have been great at reporting alot of it. Halifax fans will know more about Fax's bid, therefore be more confident. The simple truth is, nobody knows all the facts, and will the RFL stick to their criteria? That was my criticism last time, did the best 14 clubs get in? I didn't think so.

Whatever the outcome, Widnes, Halifax and Barrow are stronger clubs than they were 2/3 years ago for the effort or trying.

Nope. Cheshire, was Lancashire. Never Merseyside.

My mistake. It's the accent you see.

It's Lancascouse, although they'll never admit it.

Well said that man, especially that last paragraph.

Take no notice he's been drinking heavily!

This. At the last round of licensing, many Widnes and Leigh fans (and Leigh officials) vented their anger not only to the RFL but to the Crusaders. Wrongly. Any of my views on the Crusaders have nothing to do with Widnes. Hopefully, whichever Championship club is successful this year will not become detested by its competitors the way that Celtic Crusaders were in 2008.

The League Weekly is not the only publication to assume that Widnes will be in.

Widnes is in Cheshire. Though people from the town like to refer to themselves as 'woolybacks', there is actually a large population of real woolybacks in the town, those who have moved away from their Liverpool roots to settle there. Without any stats, I'd say demographically, there seems almost a 33/33/33 split. 33% of those who come from Liverpool, 33% of which detest Liverpool and pray each night that the town becomes part of Greater Manchester, and another 33% of Widnesians who couldn't care less about the Liverpool / Manchester divide in the town.

I think it is a little bit different to the last time around. Widnes, if they are successful, deserve their position in Superleague, the Celtic Crusaders didnt. They were just fast tracked to satisfy the expansion plans of the RFL and thereby keeping their paymasters (sky) happy.

When / if Widnes get the nod, I dont think they will be hated by other championship teams. They may get some healthy banter, but not hated.

Will it matter ? , once they go up , they will be a SL club , and will behave accordingly , ie they will attempt to rob the Championship clubs of their better players and offer peanuts in recompense , and within a couple of years the fans will change also , that is just the way it is , there has been some ' arrogance ' and emperors new clothes ' blindness shown already from our friends by the Mersey , it will only get worse

This is true. I remember when Fax were in the big league and we raided Leigh of their stars. I didn't give a monkeys then. You adapt to your environment.

Whereas Leigh is the club of the people

They're the glue that binds us all.

Starbug, unfortunately it is the way of the world. All pro/semi pro clubs raid amateur clubs and offer very little by way of recompense. You sound a little bitter - when Leigh were in SL did you not sign players from clubs in lower leagues?

Nope , we weren't there long enough , we had the ' dregs ' of SL and the crocked Aussies that couldn't get a gig elsewhere , apart from Craig Stapleton who quite simply ran his blood to water for our cause from first minute to last

Not bitter , that's just the way it is , just a shame the club going up isn't going to have the excitement of actually winning , I am amused by the thread about the announcement , with fans booking days off to go on the beer , just a weird way of doing things if you ask me , souless , unexciting , tame

I can just see it now , fans on the lash , with people not in the know asking why , " We've just been promoted " , " I thought the season ended in October " , " yes it does , we got in via a committee " ,

Your right and it is wrong in principle, but don't lie you weren't getting a touch excited last time when you thought you had a chance? What do you want us & Fax to do, just sit there and check when get home from work what happened?

Not all as depressed as you, ya know

unfortunately these are the cards we have to play with as it stands!

Me ? . no , I knew we didnt stand a chance , in fact I was very vocal on our board that I didn't want us to get a franchise , Leigh as a club were and still are not ready to attempt SL under franchising IMO

Party at the Stobarts Bugman, souless and unexciting i wouldnt use to describe the up and coming event. It will be a party like never before to celebrate all the hard work put in for the last 3 years.

Up the Widni!