Widnes Vikings can confirm that our application for entry into the Betfred Super League has not been successful.
While we are disappointed by the outcome, we are incredibly proud to have made it to the final stages of the application process – remaining at the table on the final day of decision-making.
Our focus remains firmly on continued progress and success as a club.
The panel has not yet provided written feed back on the applications, but in a lengthy call yesterday, we were advised of the reasons why we could not proceed at this time.
Funding: Although the Vikings had secured additional funding for the next three years, should we have been successful in the application, the level of owner investment to date has been lower than that seen at other applicant clubs in previous seasons.
Performance: While we believe it would have been possible to field a competitive squad in Super League with the additional funding available, the current player pool, coaching, and performance staff at Widnes would have required significant changes within a very short timeframe. We were prepared for this and had already been in discussions with several agents across the game. However, the panel felt we were at a disadvantage compared to other applicants in this area.
IMG Grading: The Vikings have made substantial progress in the IMG grading system, seeing the fourth-highest points increase of all clubs and improving our ranking from 22nd to 19th. Despite this significant improvement, the scores of other applicants remain much higher up the table.
It should also be noted that the panel specifically commended the quality of our submission, which featured detailed and realistic figures and budgets based on a variety of factors, including attendances and central distributions.
“I would like to personally thank every individual who contributed to this document in any way—the long days and nights were all worth it to hear that we made it to the final stages of the selection panel’s discussions. We are not yet aware of the successful applicants but we wish them the very best in the Super League and hope to be joining them soon. We remain fully committed to our goal of securing a place in the Betfred Super League in the future and will continue to focus on improving the club in every area. While this chapter has come to a close, our journey is far from over. We are motivated, determined, and ready for what lies ahead.” – Stuart Murphy, Chairman
Vikings Voice Event
We will be holding a Vikings Voice event this Monday evening, and we strongly encourage our supporters to attend.
This event will provide an opportunity for fans to ask questions and share feedback on both our Super League application and the ongoing IMG grading process.
We greatly value the input of our supporters as we continue to work towards the future success of the club, and we will be answering your questions directly.
The event will take place at 7pm on Monday 20th October in the Bridge Suite at the DCBL Stadium.
