20110401

Widnes: Missed out three years ago
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Widnes chairman Steve O’Connor has voiced his support for the Super League licensing system after his club regained their place in the top flight.
On Thursday, the Vikings were named as the first side to secure a three-year licence for the 2012-14 seasons, seeing off competition from fellow Championship outfits Barrow and Halifax.
Licensing was introduced in 2009 to replace automatic promotion and relegation, with Widnes’ bid being unsuccessful in the first round of applications.
Instead Salford and Celtic Crusaders were chosen to join an expanded 14-team league, with Widnes forced to spend another three years in the Championship.
Widnes have now secured a place in the Super League despite without playing in a Championship Grand Final, but O’Connor thinks the licensing system is good for the development of the game.
“I was always a fan of the licensing system,” said O’Connor, who saved Widnes when they went into administration in 2007.
Right way
“I think it’s the right way to go. There are elements that other sports can learn from.
“I think the club going up and taking all the players from the club coming down was destined to fail and promoting a team in October doesn’t give them time to recruit.
“I know that the decisions taken here the last time Widnes were in Super League were ‘anything to stay up’ and you can’t nurture talent in that sort of environment.
“The licensing system allows us to experiment a little bit more. If we were in a simple promotion and relegation (system) it would be very difficult to blood some of those youngsters.
“We think we have some very exciting talent here and it will be great to allow them to play on the top stage.”
O’Connor says that Widnes intends to spend up to the £1.65million salary cap in order to ensure that the Vikings can compete in the top flight.
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The golden ticket
Boots ‘n’ All caught up with Widnes, Halifax and Barrow ahead of the Super League licence announcement.
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Crossing the line
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Vikings aim to make an impact
Chairman Steve O’Connor insists Widnes won’t just be making up the number when they return to Super League next year.
Widnes back in the big time
Widnes will return to Super League in 2012 after they were awarded a three-year licence by the Rugby Football League.
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View article:
System suits O’Connor


