I'm not sure it's as bad as that. Wakefield continue to demonstrate that it's possible to be competitive in SL without paying over the top for superstars and also without a benefactor's input.
I just think that in quite a few cases, clubs just need to be smarter.

Not sure what you're implying? Are Widnes dire on the field? Yes. Are Widnes running up massive debts or have a sugar daddy? No, but if you know any please let me know! We have one of the best academies in the country so not sure how it isn't sustainable.

^^ I didn't suggest Widnes aren't sustainable, but from an outsiders point of view the club looks like it is happy with just being in SL, not adding to the value of it. Investment into community work looks great, investment in youth looks great, but it has to transfer up to the first team. It seems as though all work/investment stops short of investing in the first team to me. Thats only my opinion looking from the outside, but I'm happy to be corrected.

=#FF0000Please leave out the name calling or you can take a break from posting privileges. Thank you.

Salford can’t get half that figure in Super League, that’s the reason their in financial difficulty.

I think it depends on what you call adding value to SL. We have been as competitive as 4 or 5 of the other Super League teams in the last four years. Unfortunately, the coaching / leadership has failed us this year which has resulted in our largest ever loss streak. You could look at this season's three wins and say "Widnes aren't contributing to a competitive game" but we have actually ran a close game (within 12 pts) in at least 12 of our 22 games. I think it's also a little unfair considering we've only really fallen apart this year/last 18 months.

I think the OP may be stirring something that doesn't need stirring, I can't see anything wrong in asking the fans for a bit of help, we are way under the salary cap so if we have money can spend it, there's nothing wrong with trying our best to keep in super league, in fact going down probably sees an end to us unless we get another sugar daddy.

One thing I will say though if we hadn't followed rugby leagues instructions in "framing the future" and gone all out to get a new stadium we would still be at our spiritual home "The Willows" which the club owned. Maybe the OP should bear that in mind when making such posts as his club under them rules would not be in the promised land.

No it is not the reason at all, clubs in SL have shown they can be sustainable with similar average crowds to Salford, albeit not compete at the very top... The reason their in financial difficulty is they have been left with a massive wage bill and an extortionate rent agreement at the AJ Bell by a so called fan at the club... Okay he has stepped in and helped them out again in there hour of need but he surely cannot do that forever.

I guess that oversized 1 million pound cheque the Salford fans were gloating about on our pitch 2 years ago was never cashed in then?

Asking for supporters to help signings is fine. We occasionally do similar through the RSG.

The problem with Salford is that there are signs that this is the tip of the financial crisis iceberg. Whilst true fans of any club have my sympathy when the club they love hits financial problems, I find it hard to have too much sympathy for Salford.

They had a chance to get money for Bob Lui at the start of the season and they all laughed at us. Now they're cash strapped and we've signed Todd Carney (and possibly a couple more) till the end of 2018.

Will we survive? No idea, but we're going all out to try.

The Administration won't put him into Administration !

Without trying to sound like i'm sticking the knife in (I've certainly nothing against Widnes), its the second season in a row you've finished bottom and have only won 3 times this year. Even when you did get in the top 8, it's almost like the club thought "job done" and went on holiday.

Widnes should be applauded for the academy (as you say its one of the best) but i do feel sorry for the young players coming through into the first team as there's been no real investment in it and are almost like lambs to the slaughter.
I just want to see more from Widnes, as another poster said, its like they're happy to be in SL.

Regarding Salford i hope they sort it, but as a Bradford fan as you can imagine I've experienced this sort of stuff many times over and i really hope they sort it, but it looks like only one outcome IMHO