You need to get Brian Noble in ASAP, let him clear out some of the things that are obviously holding you back and to appoint his own backroom staff.

Your too inexperienced in key areas at your club, i'm not being funny here but that squad thats been assembled by Dennis Betts/Paul Cullen is simply awful, Brian Noble did a great job at Celtic Crusaders in a similar situation, he put a squad together in basically just a couple of months that was very competetive given what he had to work with.

I dont think Widnes can/will move on whilst the owner remains loyal to Paul Cullen. The changes that need to be made wont happen whilst Cullen is Director of Rugby or whatever his role is.

Betts was never going to be the ticket for the job required. A Brian Noble type replacement wont entertain the Widnes coaching job whilst Cullen is meddling in the background.

Unfortunately its going to be up to the owner to make some very hard decisions.

As much as I like Cullen he isnt what Widnes need, likewise Denis Betts. Recruitment has been predictably poor, the signing of Jon Clarke as captain (probably on big money) smacks of jobs for the boys by Cullen. Dont get me wrong, Clarke can do a job for Widnes but he certainly shouldnt be classed as a major key player. I have said before that Pickersgill is nowhere near a SL player and I cant understand the decision to give him a SL contract.

I hope Widnes make the changes asap as SL needs a strong competitive Widnes team not a laughing stock.

Paul Cullen may have his faults but player recruitment isn't one of them. Almost all the players he brought to Warrington have turned out to be excellent signings, including the likes of Mick Monaghan, Louis Anderson, Henry Fa'Fili, Matt King, Chris Bridge and Simon Grix, to name but a few. PC's shortcoming was that he could never get the best out of this talent. You probably do need a better coach than Betts, but you have three years ( or at least two ) to steadily build. Right now, there's not much atttraction for a successful coach to come to Widnes - improve over a season or so and you'd look a much better bet.

Im not too sure who was pulling the strings at warrington.

Wasnt Andrew Johns responsible for attracting the likes of Monaghan, King etc to Warrington.

Fairplay though if he was responsible for Bridge and Grix.

PC was responsible for the recruitment of the vast majority of players in the Warrington squad. Nothing wrong with Cull. You've achieved your initial aim by being back in SL. No-one said it was going to be easy. It's roll up sleeves and fight it out time.

Its nice to think supporters from other clubs and our friends 8 miles away have genuine symphathy for our once great club thanks for the kind words

Do you still hang around the Spar with all those chavs?

Chin up its a long season I expect you will get better as the season goes on. Plus Salford where very good in the first half against saints and where probably smarting over their second half collapse. As a Leeds fan I think you will raise your game and catch us with a wcc hangover and give us a game.

You guys just need to tough out the first season, sure it will be difficult but there is certainly no need to get depressed. You will turn some teams over, but will probably only get 6/7 wins through the season and then look to build and improve on what you have.
BTW Ahvan looks a cracking signing

Most Wire fans want to play Widnes twice a year and to win both matches. Outside of that, we're happy to see you back in SL and hope you become a strong side again within a few years: just not as strong as Wire, if you'd all be so kind!

You cant make an omelette without breaking eggs.Keep the faith

I think people underestimate how hard it is getting to build a team from scratch nowadays.

The quick fix Aussie solution is getting harder - both due to reduction in quotas and the fact that fewer quality Aussies are moving to SL full stop. A number of sides have thankfully realised that if you can't sign reasonable quality from the NRL, you may as well not bother.

Add to that the fact that (partly as a result of fewer imports) quality British players are getting signed up on what would have been seen as ridiculously long-term deals and the market is a lot thinner than it used to be.

Wakey may have signed a lot of players but they did have about half a team, and getting the likes of Lauti'iti on board would have encouraged other players to have a look. Had you guys succeeded in signing a real star Aussie, I'd bet a few waverers who have ended up elsewhere would have given you a chance.

As it is the lesson is probably that Widnes should already be recruiting for next season now.