Joy at Widnes Vikings’ elevation to the Engage Super League, after they had the door to the top flight shut on them in 2008, contrasted with the twitchiness felt by at least two existing clubs.
One of the 14 first-generation licence-holders will be demoted to the Co-operative Championship, with yesterday’s announcement of Widnes’s successful three-year licence application ensuring their return to the Super League in 2012 after seven years.
Intriguingly, the RFL raised the possibility of two clubs going down when it reveals the identities of the other 13 successful applicants on July 26.
Halifax missed out to Widnes on the one guaranteed promotion spot, but in meeting the criteria for entry on turnover and ground capacity, the door has been left ajar for the Championship club still to go up. Although a remote prospect, it nonetheless added to nervousness in the “corridor of uncertainty” in Wakefield and neighbouring Castleford. Crusaders, who like Wakefield Wildcats went into administration and were docked four points at the start of this season, could yet be dragged into the demotion equation.
As an “expansion” club in North Wales, though, Crusaders are seen as a surer bet, with the likelihood remaining that Wakefield, rather than Castleford Tigers, will be the first Super League club to be relegated under the new system.
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The end of traditional promotion and relegation three years ago has helped clubs to stabilise financially and foster more home-grown talent, while Widnes’s patience and diligence, having missed out on an original licence to Crusaders and Salford City Reds, was finally rewarded.
Steve O’Connor, the Widnes chairman, a haulage millionaire who has pumped more than £2 million into the Cheshire club since rescuing them in 2008, joined hundreds of supporters there for the announcement broadcast live from RFL headquarters in Leeds.
“I hadn’t been nervous until 24 hours beforehand, because I always knew we had the No 1 bid,” a nonetheless relieved O’Connor said. “The really hard part starts now. We’ve a business plan to treble our turnover and fanbase, but it has to be done in a sustainable way to avoid the old boom-and-bust mentality. But we’ve the chance to revitalise this great club.”
O’Connor is committed to spending up to the £1.65 million salary cap next year to make Widnes competitive under Denis Betts, the former Great Britain forward brought in this year. Whether that will involve more of O’Connor’s personal fortune remains to be seen. “We’ve a plan that doesn’t involve me continuing to put more cash in, although I think it’s going to take more of my time,” he said.
Richard Lewis, the RFL chairman and head of the five-strong decision-making body, said: “It was not an easy choice and obviously two other clubs [Halifax and Barrow] have been left disappointed. But Widnes deserve it. They have done well in the last three years on and off the field, and we believe they will raise the standards of Super League.”
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“We’re happy that the RFL decided we meet the Super League criteria, but disappointed we didn’t get the nod,” Mike Kelly, a Halifax director, said. “We still believe that our bid is as good as many in Super League and will take feedback from the League to find out our weaknesses and work on them.”
The announcement was tinged by sadness at the death yesterday of Eddie Stobart, 56, whose former lorry empire sponsors Widnes at their Stobart Stadium home.
Wigan Warriors, the defending champions, who succumbed to their first league defeat by Warrington Wolves a week ago, face another stiff test of their resolve away to Leeds Rhinos, the four-times Super League winners, tonight.
Super League 2012 timetable
• Widnes Vikings are the first club to be awarded a second-generation three-year Super League licence for the 2012 to 2014 seasons, leaving 13 more places up for grabs.
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Today The 14 existing Super League clubs in the last year of initial licences have until 5pm to submit applications for renewals.
July 26 One existing club are guaranteed to lose their Super League place when the RFL announces the remaining successful licence-holders. Wakefield Wildcats are seen as the most vulnerable.
• Two clubs would make way if Halifax, who missed out to Widnes on guaranteed promotion of one Championship club, yet fulfilled the entry criteria (£1 million turnover, 10,000 capacity stadium), are allowed in.