A year ago, to the day, administrators managed to agree a deal with a consortium to take over and save Widnes Vikings after financial difficulties had hindered the club following relegation from Super League.
After supporters raised more than £100,000 in support and the deal was finalised, the club’s then Performance Director and lifelong fan Phil Finney was appointed to the role of CEO by the club’s new Board of Directors.
Despite beginning the season on -12 points, the Vikings retained their Betfred Championship status as well as featuring at Wembley Stadium in the inaugural AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final.
Under Finney’s leadership the club survived the most difficult of seasons and are looking to learn and build in 2020.
Finney said: “It was an extremely turbulent year for the club. We didn’t set out with the expectation of the year being like that and it was a really steep learning curve.
“The main thing we had to do last season was put out a lot of fires and make sure we had our finances in order.
“We had to spend a lot of time making sure we had the correct business model in place and one that we could actually afford – so that was the main achievement out of last year.
“I think the 1895 Cup was perfect time for us as a club last season. It came at a time when the community and the whole town needed galvanising.
“Widnes Vikings are somewhat synonymous with Wembley Stadium and have had quite a few trips down over the years but there was a generation who had never seen Widnes at Wembley.
“It is such an iconic stadium and for us to play there after the year we had was absolutely amazing and the experience was amazing, apart from the result, of course.
“We’re hoping to have a really good season this year and if we can get into the play-offs then that’s something, we’d be really proud of at the end of the year.”
Widnes are set to feature on Our League for the first time in 2020 as they visit Dewsbury Rams on Sunday 1 March, 6:15pm kick-off, and Finney is a big advocate of the Betfred Championship being showcased further.
“As a club, we’ve really embraced change and trying to modernise what we are doing, and Our League has helped with that.
“I think we’re third at the minute in terms of membership on the Our League app behind Bradford Bulls and Leigh Centurions so we’re chasing Leigh and trying to catch up with them.
“We actually used the Our League app to launch our third kit for the 2020 season which has been received really well and will be using in the Challenge Cup, 1895 Cup and at the Summer Bash.
“I think the Our League app allows new supporters to get a taste of what the sport is all about and if it can help the game in the long-term then Widnes Vikings are right behind it.”
Widnes have made a strong start to the season winning two of their opening three Betfred Championship fixtures with comfortable victories over Oldham and Batley Bulldogs. The Vikings also progressed to Round Five of the Coral Challenge Cup with another victory over Oldham last weekend.
Their attentions turn back to the Betfred Championship this weekend with a difficult trip to the Tetley’s Stadium to face a Dewsbury Rams side who narrowly beat Halifax last time out.
Sign-up to Our League here to watch Widnes’ trip to Dewsbury from 6:15pm on Sunday 1 March.
