Additionally having a strong presence of amateur rugby league in the town does not count either.

Spot on there from the last two posters, especially about the club's involvement in the actual development. The club itself will benefit in the long run (so long as it's "finds" aren't snaffled up by the SL clubs for free). It's a policy in the right direction and it is one that Widnes have taken seriously. The key for all the clubs now is to assess how many of them are converted into regular first team spots. It's no good Hull KR crowing about how many youngsters they played on Sunday (and they played well) if actually none of them make it to the regular first team squad because there's too many prefered overseas players blocking their progress. At Halifax a few year ago we had a back to back championship winning youth squad - only one of them converted in the three years at the top. At £80k a year, that's expensive. Conversion is the key and all clubs are as yet at an early stage to judge whether we're successful or not - especially when measuring ourselves against the Ockers.

Sam Barlow and Danny Jones came through our junior set up before moving clubs.

Fax had a junior setup

Fax fans are clutching at straws and are boring now.Why dont the RFL say only one applicant available, and that is Widnes.

They can't come out and say that can they. Although they did find a better more subtle way of doing it. Just make the criteria fit one club.....well at least until 'Fax stuck two fingers up to them by fudging their final league game attendance

Widnes tick every box no one else does

1 championship team goes up.

Simple were in

Wish people would stop saying that! How many times do we need to be screwed over before we exercise some caution?

Come on Dalton - where's yer faith lad!!!

The erudite former president Dubya put it nicely.

"Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." Once bitten, twice shy. Twice Bitten, no chance. Thrice bitten, you're a bitter widnes fan who wont believe rain is wet unless he goes outside and checks.

Sheer poetry

Chris all due respect but for christ sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We was not screwed over last time.

Be honest even tho hes a richard head, if you were dick lewis with the rfl and you had a choice between

Salford - Everything in check and GF winners
Celtic - Expansion, constant profit and potential
Widnes- In limbo, Crooked owner just left and the club went bankrupt???

It didnt take much i agreed with the rfl and im a honest loyal fan who goes all the games even to france and london etc.. I wish some of our fans took the victim hat off. We as widnes are nooooo different to any other team and the difference is this time is we tick all the boxes and have an excellent business plan and a healthy bank balance.

Rant over..