Dont know about everyone else.. but im reading posts on other teams websites i.e celtic and am embarrassed about bitter widnes fans who are showing us up goin on about HOW WE HAVE A GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO SL.

Our business plan in reality was only going for a few months as we went bankrupt so our old team died... there plans were solid and a lot longer than ours. We have more fans and a better ground bar none!, but be honest the best two teams finished 1 and 2 in the league and if you was investing in a merchandise would you take a chance on a team that went bankrupt i wouldnt. I was gutted but totally understand and have forgotten and am now lookin forward to the season ahead i jus wish everyone would just leave it be now as other teams must think wot a bunch of nobs, and it couldnt be further from the truth.

ps go-one jump on me

Jiffy D... it's a good post and like a couple of fans on here I think it's terrific that you don't feel any resentment about what happened..

I for one am still incredibly bitter about the whole thing and will be for some time. For me this was the latest in a long line of offences by the RFL against our club.

It's not about a god given right to have a SL place, it's about how the RFL carry out their agenda.

We were told that it would be a fair and transparent process for all 14 spots... Instead it was all done using a criteria that no-one was told about behind closed doors and all applications were simply summarised in a line or two which only further propagates the bad feeling.

Instead it was a safe opportunity for the RFL to promote an expansion team. Richard Lewis has so much as now admitted this in a quoted email on the TIW site.

It was a process in which cast iron financial guarantees were overlooked in favour of airy fairy promises about new grounds.

This is old ground mate but it's my thoughts on the matter and it won't change. My boycott of everything Superleague related remains in place and I won't miss it again this year. I am bitter but very excited about the championship competition this year and the squad that has been put in place.

I will not however go posting stuff anywhere else on these boards about other clubs unless it is defence of this club and also get a little bit irked when I see it. It only raises the heckles of the 'Richard Lewis Youth' that make up the expansionista on this site.

It was a farce and we will be subjected to it again in 2 years!!

I don't think you have bitter fans, i do think most of your fans feel let down by the RFL, that in itself can cause frustration, we all know Widnes got shat on, even supporters like myself from other clubs know this, IMHO Widnes should of got a franchise before Salford or Celtic.

As a totally disinterested party I must agree with IET. Widnes, not for the first time, were stitched up. When the results of the 'farce' of the franchises were made public, I posted an intention that my wife and I would make a point of visiting the Halton at least once this season, as a mark of solidarity with the bitterly disappointed Widnes fans. OK, so it will be just two more spectators for one game, but if more fair-minded people did the same it would give a lift to the board, the players and even the home-based fans. Looking over the preparations for all the clubs in the Championship I cannot see any finishing above Widnes. If, as I fully expect, the club does make the grand final, at least it will be considered for Super League in three year's time (assuming Lewis and his fellow conspirators don't move the goal posts. When we go down to England we try to take in at least two matches, so our visit to the Halton Stadium is arranged for mid-May; for the French game, after visiting St Helens the previous night. We would like to wish all Widnes fans a good and successful season.

What a fantastic post... Many Thanks for that St Andy's Land. I truly hope you have a great time when you visit!

Aye full marks St Andy.

However, I'm not bitter, I'll always feel we were hard-done by and disappointed, but there's no point in dwelling on it.

What I did find funny was on here and on trustinwidnes, there was a lot of people who weren't confident of being awarded a license, these same people were fuming after the announcement.

If we carry on as we are at the moment with some growth by 2011, it'd be only fair that we are granted a license then. Unless Leigh surpass us, which is unlikely.

What both of us dont know is how much they want a second French club in SL? How much they want a North East club? Will they deal with those who have broken promises this time around? and Will it be transparent next time?

Leigh were done for youth and stadium, what a joke.
Widnes for lack of posted accounts.

We all know the process was a farce, lets see what happens next time out.

In Enemy Territority & richardviking: Thanks for the kind remarks. We are looking forward to our trip to Widnes. I will probably be waring a Scottish retro internatiional top, so if you see my wife and I, come over and say hello; it's always good to talk to other Leagueies. All the best.

I agree the next franchise opening i agree it should be us and leigh a few will drop out i think.

PS has anyone heard the rumour about ste mac having 8-10 games to see his results this year, heard a few in the north stand last week

I haven't heard that particular rumour, but I was told very recently by a local councillor that Widnes won't get in next time either because the RFL want teams from outside the M62 corridoor and because putting Widnes in next time will be an admission by the RFL that they were wrong last time.
He might be completely wrong on some of that, only time will tell.
My own view is neither Salford or Celtic will drop out. Salford won't because they could, if they do well, build a decent sized level of support even if the planned stadium doesn't come about. Celtic won't because, like Fulham/London, the RFL will give them all the support they can. After all the hype about it being "now or never for the game in Wales" (and we hear that every couple of decades) the RFL will look even more stupid if this latest venture fails.

That TIW forum is pathetic but not too bad on here. Although you do have some inflated opinion of yourselfs and your "right" to be in SL.

We're not too bad a spelling too.

Can't say I've seen anyone write any such thing about our so called 'god given' right to be in SL.

You have no idea what position Leigh will be at in 3 years time,your unlikely quote may just be wishful thinking by then