vikings 4 ever wrote:And why is that then?

Most Widnes fans have gotten over the licence decision, but I can still see why certain things upset the minority. Go back to when SL was 1st brought in - Widnes were told "no you're not in" then told "yes you've got a place guaranteed" only then to be told "no you're not in". I mean look at some of the sides that were chosen back then: Paris, Workington, Oldham, Sheffield, Halifax. We had been World Champions and Challenge Cup finalists just a few years previously. Fast forward to 2005 and any other year finishing 11th wouldn't have seen you get relegated, Widnes did because the RFL wanted to introduce Catalans. Move on to 2008 and Widnes again get shunned, this time in favour of Celtic. Widnes had one major negative in the licence application, several clubs had quite a few negatives. Widnes were told no SL because of previous finances - what about stadium quality, crowds, youth development etc. When the licence idea 1st came about a lot of people said its a sham and the RFL will just pick who they want regardless of the criteria - most people said it would be the same 12 plus Salford and Celtic before the licences even went in. What was the point in the Widnes chairman spending around a million pound on improving the stadium, when all Salford had to do was hire a portocabin and stand in a field and go "look what were building". Despite people banging on for years about stadium quality, it appears several clubs were given the benefit of the doubt. Widnes weren't given the benefit of the doubt over finances, even with the offer of a half a million pound bond upfront to guarantee security.

Now I have nothing particularly against Celtic, but a) Why can't some other team take the hit next time instead of us and b) Widnes fans may moan a lot but in all honesty we have had quite a lot to moan about - whats the odds Toulouse get a licence ahead of Widnes next time round?

What other side has been shafted by the RFL on 3 seperate occasions: We've been shunned in favour of Paris, Les Catalans and Celtic? Surely we can't get done over again?

Widnes are not a perfect club by any means and we certainly don't have a god given right to SL, but given the fact whats happened in the past, you would hope that the RFL will give us a break. Until then though I'm sure no-one at the club expects to be given any favours, so we'll just have to keep plugging away and banging on the SL door.

Code13 wrote:i would agree with suggestions previously that if a SL club is about to pop, chances are Wakey rather than anyone else.

Other than that, I am growing to dispise Widnes "fans" over the whole fanchise issue.

Good luck Celtic, heres hopeing to a good end to your season.

Code13 wrote:i would agree with suggestions previously that if a SL club is about to pop, chances are Wakey rather than anyone else.

Other than that, I am growing to dispise Widnes "fans" over the whole fanchise issue.

Good luck Celtic, heres hopeing to a good end to your season.

Vic King wrote:love me, lets all bow to you then oh holy one.

In EnemyTerritory wrote:I'm not quite sure what that press statement proves to be honest...
There seems to be quite a lot of smoke hanging around Celtic so I would be surprised if there wasn't a fire..

Article in the League Express about the RFL becoming involved in financial problems at Celtic
Comments from BlakeJake saying that things aren't right.. (we all know he's Luke Dyer's brother so he's not kidding anyone.. he's probably worried that he's dropped his bro in it!!)
Supposed comments from players on Facebook that their cars have been taken off them (we've seen how naive players can be over what they should and shouldn't be posting so this can't be discounted)
Accusations from players from a number of clubs that they have been offered playing contracts for next year which have now been withdrawn
and now this article which offers nothing.. it carries about as much weight as John Wilkinson saying that there is more funding for the stadium but not offering any idea on what this is.. It just seems like posturing..

I don't think for a minute that Celtic are currently in administration but looking at things something doesn't smell right and it isn't my home town.. well it's not completely to blame..

This figure mentioned in the article of a £300k profit.. for a corporate profit that really isn't that brilliant.. not considering the amount of investment that will be needed next year on the playing side, and I realise that this doesn't account for Samuels' fortune but it has to be on his mind..

looking at everything that is blowing around at the moment I would guess that the club had planned on significantly higher (paying) crowds this year and are now struggling. I would guess that the club will now be seeking further investment and spending more money trying to build the crowd but if that fails then I wouldn't be surprised if the RFL call time on this little experiment and offer a place in SL to another team.

They are already facing egg on their face over the stadium fiascos at Wakefield, Castleford and Salford..

Starbug wrote:I havent commented on this up to now but the part I find interesting is at the beginning of the press release " I wa approched " , by who I would like to know ?

J20 wrote:Yea I picked up on that, real intersting one and IMO proof they where guranteed SL without a shadow of a doubt!