Agree with you on that one spud.

In what way bar their rented council stadium are Widnes any better than Wakefield?

Youth development - Wakefield win for me. Academy champions are they not?

Support base - Probably very similar

Facilities - Widnes win here.

Finances - Equal. Both reformed under new ownership after going into administration through spending beyond their means.

On field ability - Widnes aren't the best team in the Championship and Wakefield are far from the worst in Super League so its a win for Wakey here.

give widnes 3 years of sky TV money then i'll tell you if they are better than wakefield...

Wakefield and Crusaders out, Widnes and Halifax in for me. If any team goes into administration in the previous 3 years then they should not be considered for a licence.

Would be nice Grosey but you know the RFL will not admit defeat with Crusaders or Quins.

Why 3 years and not 3 years and 4 months?

And you think Widnes should be in? You have been listening yeah?

Yup.

You are right.

Sky Sports News just went to Eddie at the Stobart and only after about 10 mins of waffling on about Widnes did the guy in the studio even utter the words Halifax and Barrow, before the piece just finished.

I hope one of the other two get it - seems like it's a done deal for the Chemics though...

Youth Developement - For a championship club, our 18s won the division last year against all SL opposition and the under 16s were unbeaten. Not bad really is it?
Support base - I'd go as far to say we'd average around 7k in SL and we have one of the best away support in the country. Even in the current division and 90% of the opposition are in yorkshire.
Facilities - Widnes
Finances - Although we have both been in administration, we have 3 years of solvancy and our chairman has put his own millions, literally in the club.

widnes is trending on ter

Can of worms debate discussed many times but it is my opinion that SL would be a better place with Widnes, Halifax in instead of Crusaders and Quins. Just my opinion that we need the grass roots to be strong before we invent new teams/move out of territory, and the London experiment just has not worked out for mine. Catalans has worked but they were already well established in the French Championship.

Although I want Widnes to get the nod because they got shafted over last time round in favour of Crusaders part of me wants Halifax to get it just because of the hysterical 'conspiracy' and 'Lifes so unfair' outpourings we will get over on the Widnes board if they dont get in.

Great reading though.






10 mins to go.

That’ll be the modern stadium which Saints are currently renting too? Going by that, then Wigan and Hull FC should be kicked out of Super League.


No, that was a couple of years ago. Last season it was the Widnes Vikings 16’s and 18’s which dominated. The 16’s went unbeaten.


No, we had a larger support base every year that we were in Super League than several current clubs, such as Hudds, Broncoquins and Salford.

-----------2002 2003 2004 2005

Widnes: 6510 6511 6153 6794

Wakey: 3889 4017 4806 5100

Salford: 4199 n/a 3996 4093



I think you’d have to be a complete numbskull to ignore the reality of the current financial state of the Widnes Vikings. They will be able to spend up to the full salary cap. That strengthens Super League.



Indeed it does and your answer contradicts your opening statement:





That’s quite true, but even you are not stupid enough to think that the same team would be coming up to SL.

the Grass Roots are very strong in those two areas. Its not going to make it any stronger adding a 6th club in west yorkshire.

I could understand the strengthening the grass roots argument for Cumbria but not in this case.

I feel sorry for the other applicants. Today is the Widnes show. Sky have revealed the decision already in how they've made it all about Widnes.

What I don't get is why the future of the current Sl sides isn't being decided at the same time. What if they review the applications and decide all the current teams deserve their place or are protected by being a franchise operation ?

if they dont let widnes in that would be hilarious! wish it was an early april fools day

crusaders were always gonna get in......salford got in instead of widnes hth....

Widnes!!!!!

I'm suprised Widnes got in....no really

Well I'm shocked.
Now the bun fight really starts.

Interesting to see that Barrow have no chance, even in July.

The thing that has dissappointed me most about Widnes is the way that since they won the cup (albeit with a team of SL loanees) and thus ticked that box they seem to have disgarded the playing side of things and are no more than an also ran in the championship. It almost as if it's job done, feet up and a big fat cigar.

At least fax have kept on winning.

So its Widnes with Fax getting a 2nd change to prove themselves against other Super League clubs.

Barrow out of the running full for the stadium.

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

it's so important that a"promoted" team has more time to prepare that if two teams are "promoted" then the second one wont have it