Allen is a class player and I'd have him back at Barrow in a playing capacity tomorrow. However, he shook hands on a new contract at Barrow at the end of 2009 and then welched on the deal, so few Barrow fans respect him as a bloke. Not sure he's good enough for SL though.

None of these players are super league standard, there are better players in this division, couldn't understand the trouble the club went to last season to keep thackeray. We have the franchise so now the club is making preparations for super league. hopefully recruitment will be better than in recent seasons.

The thing that gets me the most is i strongly think that without Thackeray's performance against fax in the Semi final, we wouldn't be heading for SL. I mean its not like last year we never tried to win anything. didn't do brilliantly in the league but when have we ever?? and we made the NRC final.

I know where you are coming from mate... very frustrating indeed, but you can't blame a lad for doing a u-turn if they are in a position to do so if it means only having to travel 10 minutes to work instead of 2hrs

Spot on mate we are aiming for more quality in our squad, if the whingers thought that the sun shone out of thackerys backside just think that we will have have a new playmaker who can pass and kick.

Pray tell? Who is this then?

What for now?

Scenario - 10 mins left on Thursday we are down by 8 but gaining some momentum... Who do we turn to for a bit if magic to win it?

I will be highly delighted if we are down by 8pts with 10 to play

I know he was classified as a one trick pony but at least attacked the line and more times than not produced something. I fear the worst for this season.

If your going to have one trick then scoring match winning tries out of nothing isn't a bad one certainly

I think some are confusing 'Thackeray will not be our SL stand off' with the truth that is 'Thackeray won't be playing again for Widnes even in Champ!'

Grant Gore or Tom Gilmore.

Makes you wonder if the club has agreed terms with some big names,be it from the southern hemisphere or elsewhere for SL next year to make them start a clear-out at this stage,I sincerely hope so or we could end up scrabbling around for decent players in the close season.

Well i have looked at it as a positive, as gives them a chance to look elsewhere for a job than be hanging on wondering?We are looking at bigger players than Thackeray, and Grant Gore,Craven, and Gilmore are top youngsters at halfback.I can see Craven at Standoff and Hulme at Fullback when fit.

I'm sure your right about these youngsters OFFTHECUFF but do you think they'll be ready to mix it with the SL players by next season?

What will happen should we finish in the bottom two? Confused.com

To who ?

Widnes go into SL , as for the Championships , they're being re hashed , again

James Ford looked out of his depth when he played for Cas in superleague, and Thackary didn't look superleague standard either, though he may have matured into a better player than when he played for us.

Which is why they are,or rather were,with a Championship club in Widnes.Not many people are saying that Ford,Netherton Thackray and Gerrard are SL standard,although I think Thacks deserved an opportunity to play alongside a decent pack and srum half.This is about these players carrying the can for atrocious results due to poor recruitment and coaching, under the guise of 'assesment phase one'.In my opinion.

Hey how will we know unless give them a chance and experience?Richard Myler i watched in the academy and now look how he is playing in Superleague with Warrington.

Not all will make it, but better put them into the team gradually, and next year the youngsters will be playing in a higher reserve league.We will be able to send some out on dual registration like Wigan,Warrington,Leeds etc.

Wish people would look at the big picture, and not be blinkered.Yes i love Widnes to win everything this year, but the wish i wanted was Superleague.

York have confirmed offers for Thacks & Ford. Fax & Barrow also said to be interested in Thackeray.

That's what I mean. Is the restructuring of the Champs to begin next year?

Being a Bradford fan, i know all about poor decisions from 'upstairs'- bad news for you guys.

The players wont be playing again, theres a settlement figure to be sorted then they'll be out of there.

Bad news for Widnes and fans... good news for them, they're still getting paid for doing their gardening whislt rest of team are playing!

Good news they are not playing as we can try some of the youngsters with ability.If Thacks,Gerrard,Ford,and Netherton where here then players like Hulme,Gore,Lunt,Houghton and others would not get a chance.Sometimes big decisions need to be taken and Ford wants part time anyway.Netherton fat and slow, and Lunt is three times the player.Thacks is the best of the lot but once loses his pace he has nothing to offer in his game.He is not an organiser and has a bad kicking game.Gerrard is a strong lad but lacks pace and no kicking game.If can not handle the championship then no chance in Superleague.I am positive so onwards and upwards Vikings.

New blood is always a good thing... but players like Ford, Neth and Thack still have a lot to offer- bags of experience between them which could help the young guns as well as on-field performances. Youth needs to be tapered in- if Widnes get their s handed to them week in week out cos of inexperienced players its going to be detrimental to their development rather than constructive.

I still think the foursome are the winners here. Getting paid week in week out for free, will get a decent settlement lump sum then will simply play rest of season with another club still getting paid week on week. Next season will sign a proper contract with whichever club.

Here's one for the pot then. Completely unsbstantiated rumour heard today at The Shay, thackeray to 'fax - straight swop for Ben Black. ou heard it here first