Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:42 pm  

deeHell has gone awfully quiet all of a sudden...

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:51 pm  

Starbug wrote:

The big sticking point is the stadium , and while it is good that they have assets in the form of the current ground , to reach the bare minimum requirements to score a point in the next round of franchises they need at least a 10/15 million pound investment in the stadium , they need to achieve this before may 2011 , basically 18 months from now

Firstly, this topic was started by a Wakefield fan. Once again people go into 'Barrow is a sh!te club with a dodgy chairman etc etc' routine as a kneejerk reaction which is a shame.

Regarding our stadium, as has been said many, many times before, the club and fans of Barrow RL know far better than anyone that Craven Park needs to be brought up to scratch (we have to visit it every couple of weeks after all!). However, saying it needs £10-£15M spending on it is clearly ridiculous. The Halliwell Jones only cost £6.5M and that was a brand new site and stadium. The major areas to concentrate on are 1,000 more seats to reach SL requirements, new floodlights (which are imminent I believe), a new-build clubhouse/media centre and terracing re-modelling. The development fund already has more than enough finance to fund new toilets, electronic scoreboard and other smaller projects.

I think £3M would be more than enough (based upon other such developments at football grounds over the past few years). Still a lot of money, but certainly not £15M and certainly not an impossible target based considering the grants/loans that are available for community-based sports projects. Work has been ongoing for almost 2 years in securing funding forthe stadium improvements and a SL-esque infrastructure, so although Barrow's progress has come as a shock to most, it hasn't to those inside the club.

Regarding timescales, when Dens Park (home of Dundee FC) required improvement, Barr Stadium Construction Ltd were charged with the task of removing the existing concrete terraces and the construction of two, 3,000 seater stands. The stands were built in a record time of 82 days for the start of the next Scottish Premier League season.

I know that most other fans are completely writing us off, which I know suits the Barrow club fine. The RFL know how we have progressed and are in regular contact for updates. After all, we would be seen as an 'expansion club' to Super League, but without many of the risks associated to Crusaders etc.

Anyway, who's to say that only 1 new team will enter SL in 2012 ??

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:54 pm  

SRC wrote:

Firstly, this topic was started by a Wakefield fan. Once again people go into 'Barrow is a sh!te club with a dodgy chairman etc etc' routine as a kneejerk reaction which is a shame.

Really? I must have been reading a different thread to you then.... ~Seems you've come over here with your usual prejudiced perception of all things Barrow on here....

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:07 pm  

deeHell wrote:

Widnes have never won the NL/Championship GF...Fact! The club that wins that has the moral right to promotion. Widnes had there chance in SL and at promotion and they just didn't have it in them to compete when it matters.......Fact!

Really who won it in 2001 please enlighten me cos if it wasn't us I spent a lot of money getting drunk on the back of it.

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:13 pm  

A.N.Other Viking wrote:

Really who won it in 2001 please enlighten me cos if it wasn't us I spent a lot of money getting drunk on the back of it.

I was wondering how we managed to get promotion to Super League using the OP's 'moral right'....

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:17 pm  

GetThemScallyWags wrote:

deeHell has gone awfully quiet all of a sudden...

Sorry I didn't realize we were having a real time debate.

The point I was making was against the concept of the franchise system. Many Widnes fans complained about the drawbridge being pulled up at the time. I entirely agree it was wrong and a complete farce. The game should be decided on the pitch, it is after all a competition. After hearing the ramblings of your MP I find it annoying that this guy who represents you seems to think that Widnes have automatically got the right to enter in place off Crusaders.

The facts is P/R is bad for Widnes as they seem totally incapable of winning the Championship GF. That I can't see likely to happen in the near future with an inept coach like Cullen in charge.

The fact is if Widnes where to make it in SL via the franchise system it would depend on the following clubs not making progress on new grounds, Wakey, Cas and Salford. Cas and Salford I can't answer for but our project is looking very rosy indeed. The money already invested is very large, the people behind it are very influential. The progress has a lot of momentum. I know it's hard to take, and it removes one of the aces from you sleeve but you will just have to accept it.

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:20 pm  

deeHell wrote:

Widnes have never won the NL/Championship GF...Fact! The club that wins that has the moral right to promotion. Widnes had there chance in SL and at promotion and they just didn't have it in them to compete when it matters.......Fact!

Wrong jackass Widnes won via the grand final in 2001, Widnes had there chance in Super League? wtf you talking you have survived with luck i dont know how many times. The majority of Wakefield fans are pleasant but you mate are a complete t0sser and need telling. Wakefield as a club are one of the most vulnerable around, dont you still owe the taxman a pot full? come on here with a reasonable debate or go away.

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:20 pm  

A.N.Other Viking wrote:

Really who won it in 2001 please enlighten me cos if it wasn't us I spent a lot of money getting drunk on the back of it.

Obviously I'm talking about access to SL in the present system. For the record that promotion didn't really work out for in the long run. Your club just wasn't resilient enough to compete in SL for more than a few seasons.

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:27 pm  

deeHell wrote:

Sorry I didn't realize we were having a real time debate.

The point I was making was against the concept of the franchise system. Many Widnes fans complained about the drawbridge being pulled up at the time. I entirely agree it was wrong and a complete farce. The game should be decided on the pitch, it is after all a competition. After hearing the ramblings of your MP I find it annoying that this guy who represents you seems to think that Widnes have automatically got the right to enter in place off Crusaders.

First things first the Widnes MP is in no way representative of Widnes Vikings or it's fans. Of course we applaud anyone who challenges the idiots up at Red Hall but don't be under any illusion that his so called 'ramblings' are in any way a reflection of the club. Have you heard Steve O'Connor or Terry O'Connor making such comments?

The facts is P/R is bad for Widnes as they seem totally incapable of winning the Championship GF. That I can't see likely to happen in the near future with an inept coach like Cullen in charge.

Your 'debate' loses a lot of credibility with moronic comments like that.

The fact is if Widnes where to make it in SL via the franchise system it would depend on the following clubs not making progress on new grounds, Wakey, Cas and Salford. Cas and Salford I can't answer for but our project is looking very rosy indeed. The money already invested is very large, the people behind it are very influential. The progress has a lot of momentum. I know it's hard to take, and it removes one of the aces from you sleeve but you will just have to accept it.

And the rest of your 'debate' loses it's final shreds of credibility and exposes the truth as to why you've come on here crying and ranting like a child.

Our bid is dependent on no one's failure. Our bid will be based on the results of the hard work of our new chairman in producing something that the RFL will find irresistible to turn down.

The future of your club and it's pie in the sky investments is of no consequence to the Widnes Vikings, we'll see you in 2012 if you can last that long.

Twitchy bum time for you, enjoy it while you can

Re: Widnes before Barrow? : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:28 pm  

deeHell wrote:

Sorry I didn't realize we were having a real time debate.

The point I was making was against the concept of the franchise system. Many Widnes fans complained about the drawbridge being pulled up at the time. I entirely agree it was wrong and a complete farce. The game should be decided on the pitch, it is after all a competition. After hearing the ramblings of your MP I find it annoying that this guy who represents you seems to think that Widnes have automatically got the right to enter in place off Crusaders.

The facts is P/R is bad for Widnes as they seem totally incapable of winning the Championship GF. That I can't see likely to happen in the near future with an inept coach like Cullen in charge.

The fact is if Widnes where to make it in SL via the franchise system it would depend on the following clubs not making progress on new grounds, Wakey, Cas and Salford. Cas and Salford I can't answer for but our project is looking very rosy indeed. The money already invested is very large, the people behind it are very influential. The progress has a lot of momentum. I know it's hard to take, and it removes one of the aces from you sleeve but you will just have to accept it.

Why is P/R bad for Widnes? previous finals were under the guidance of Steve Mccormack who has a bad habit of messing up Grand Finals.

Slating Cullen also makes me laugh, we are more than happy with having him as coach and i hope he stays a long time.

Your stadium project is based on plans and drawings, we seen the same from Salford about 4 years back and nothings moved. Show me the bricks being laid and then we might start to believe. Belle Vue is a souless dump and a shocking effort to the Super League, your only saving grace is John Kear as without him you would be well and truelly fooked IMO.

Your fighting a losing battle deeHell