What you on Zimbo?

Is that not a valid point? Either your a RL strong hold with plenty of development and history or your a new development area?

Whats 'arogant' about that point?

They want to have their cake and eat it don't they?

Thanks for your constructive and well reasoned response.

For arrogant see you own chairman you buffoon.

Sooper dooper league certs is only something you and big Dessy can only dream of.

It's true that some aren't happy (you can't please everyone), but whether he's nuts or not, we've got 2 trophies in the cabinet.

As for the old chestnut of Des 'pulling the plug', why do you think that season ticket proces are going up ? To make the club non-reliant on his cash. However, he doesn't put in anything like some people may think and the club has a £800,000+ turnover. If he did walk we would still be in a better financial position than 95% of RL clubs.

Can you not see the irony of Widnes and Fax fans giving financial forecasts and advice. Pretty amusing really.

There's nothing ironic or amusing about your perpetual ignorance of our financial stability.
For one thing our turnover exceeds yours, hth.

Only just.

People on here go on about our chairman and what would happen if he stopped his funding, but Widnes would be in a far worse position if the same were to happen to them.

Probably another financial meltdown.

Based on what? The books atm represent SO'C spends on the club facilities etc.

Are you saying Barrow could survive on a 800k turnover but Widnes not on 950k turn over?

Well you best tell Des then, because that is certainly the impression he gives. It always "his" money, and "I" have bought people to the club. And fair play to him for doing that. But to say that you would be ok if he went is hard to believe. Where were you before he started investing his money?

God forbid someone other than Widnes or Fax get SL .
Squeaky bum time boys & you know it could happen.

Another nice unintelligent post, thanks!

It does seem all Barrow fans on here simply have a defensive attitude once anything brought up, where as if they looked about they'll see that they have been commended for there rise... adding competition to the division and a second strong Cumbrian side!

Maybe they'd realise it's actually THERE OWN Chairman who says it's all his money and not opposition fans!

No wonder were defensive because i haven`t seen that much praise from Widnes/fax fans just the usual tripe trotted out,big headed chairman,brown envelopes,sh*te ground blah blah..

Facts are many of yous`e don`t like it that there may be just another team now who MIGHT get a chance at SL.

"Based on what? The books atm represent SO'C spends on the club facilities etc.

Are you saying Barrow could survive on a 800k turnover but Widnes not on 950k turn over?"


Not a dig or a troll, just a genuine question.

Is the Stobart Stadium owned by Halton Council? I was under the impression that Widnes Vikings sold their interest in the stadium to the council in 1999. If this is the case, why has SOC had to pay for infrastructure works?

I noticed that the seating spells Vikings on one stand, is this the nature of the investment claimed regarding the 2008 accounts?

WRT turnover and finances, I doubt we want to get into a p*ssing competition. We know the financial weight Widnes have with SOC, bigger crowds and access to larger sponsors.

The club is actually part owned by SOC with a share owned by the council. The money was spent because the ground needed modernising (and can now brag as being one of the best RL purpose built stadiums again) and it is understood that it is one of the aces up our sleeve for a franchise.
You are quite correct that the ground is not owned by the club but it has a long lease on the stadium and it is widely known and understood that the ground is there for the use of the Widnes Vikings for as long as we need it.
There were a number of developments carried out at the ground which were done for the sake of the club...
new changing facilities, new players gym, new electronic ticketing system, new office space for the admin teams and the management, new facilities for coaching including meeting rooms with new technology like TV's, Whiteboards, new breakout area for the players etc.. there is a tour of the stadium which is fantastic..
In terms of the seats.. Stobarts paid for their section, HBC paid for their seats and SOC paid for the Vikings seats as an advertisement and it further enhances the perception and understanding that the stadium is there for the Widnes Vikings.
Quite a bit of the cash going out the door were payments against the debt ran up by the previous board and were part of the administrators agreement.

Just out of interest... have Barrow's finances been made public? Where has this £800k come from. I haven't seen anything official mentioning this number?

If you went about your business quietly and professionally then you would have received a lot more credit for your astounding achievements.
Depsite Calland's outburst the Directors at Fax know how to go about things and do it well.
In comparison you have a man at Barrow that epitomises small club mentality and makes your club seem like nothing more than a jokey play-thing.
The whole farce of him collecting the league leaders shield, the debacle that is his relationship with the coaching staff, his incredible words about losing vast sums of money in the bookies during a time of economic hardship.
He has a vision, but what actually has he committed to Barrow. I noticed that he is refusing to pay for the ground improvements. We are being told of the vast sums of money that you are making as a club. You are not willing to spend the money on youth and yet are looking to recruit another quota player.
You will not gain a franchise in 2012.. your board and your fans realise this. You have a very very good chance in 2015 but you will need to buckle down before then.
It is widely being touted in the media that Widnes have positioned themselves as the favourites for a licence in 2012 and are currently first reserve should anything happen to an existing SL club. The journalist that this has come from is not attached in any manner to the area let alone the club which gives it more credence.

For what its worth i personally don`t think we`d be ready for SL in 2012, BUT if Des & the board think we are then why not go for it ?
I`m always amazed at how fans from other teams know so much about anothers affairs.