is Stuart Wilkinson still assistant first team coach? am i right in thinking that his role as Head of Youth Development was taken by Phil Finney? if so, has the club appointed anyone to take on Phils role as Player Performance Manager?

Yes that is correct and no i dont think anybody has took that position, it could however be now part of Terry O'connors duties.

cheers for that

There is no point in youth developement when the club won't pay the going rate for up and coming youngsters.It seems that the club expect the young Widnes lads to play for virtually nothing, just for the honour of playing for the club.The problem is that these lads are trying to make it as proffessionals rugby players and honour and pride don't pay the bills.

Widnes are the only club outside the top flight who run the below, of course anyone at scholarship/18's will be on next to nothing but what do you expect. Steve O'connor isnt the richest man in the world.


1st team
Reserves
18's
Scholarship

I totally agree it is expensive enough even having a academy when you do not get 1 million from sky.It be easier to have better paid youth if was averaging 7000 fans rather than 3600.What do people expect and some people play rugby as a enjoyable sport for free or pay subs at amateur clubs.
Once make it they will get better offers.

I think the under 18's are due to be scrapped to form an under 20's next year if i can remember, that will also replace the reserve team who can have up to 4 over age players i think.

Don't see many of our current youngsters complaining. IF we get a license in 2012 they have the chance to prove themselves at the highest level should they choose to stay with Widnes.

The club will have to pay the minimum wage of £5.80 an hour. That's not great, but it's not too bad for a young lad with no real financial responsibilities. At the end of the day a player has to start somewhere and the Widnes Vikings are doing their bit by offering young players a chance of being a professional Rugby League player. If they're any good, they'll end up in SL and driving around town in a new BMW like Ritchie Myler. If they think they can do better in another clubs' academy, there's nothing stopping them going there instead. If that is beyond them, they have to accept that the club just isn't overflowing with money and get stuck in and work hard for a better future, or just pack it in all together.

The club dont have the money to splash out like SL clubs--forget who owns the club, we have to try and operate within our means. Training for scholarship lads is taking place at 7am in the gym as schools charge too much for their facilities and other cost cutting exercises are having to take place.

Its easy to criticise and I think some fans need to get in the real world.

The poaching of youngsters by pathetic and desperate SL teams and subsequent difficulty in filling our side with local lads as a result has been forseen by many on here.

We're always going to find it difficult to keep our youngsters in this dying division. We need to offer them SL rugby and need the revenue to offer them SL youngster wages. A good youth setup is demanded for a license but how can we maintain one under these circumstances? It's unfair but that's the state of this stupid sport.