Saturday night’s alright for Vikings, says chief

Dec 3 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES Vikings have moved to clarify the reasons behind the unexpected scheduling of six of their ten home games in The Co-operative Championship on Saturday evenings.

The Vikings had previously stated Friday night was their preferred choice for games at Stobart Stadium Halton in 2009.

But only three matches will be played at this time, although Widnes will host a traditional Friday fixture in Easter weekend but with the clash against Leigh Centurions kicking off at 3pm.

There has been much debate over the move on internet forums and club chief executive Alex Bonney has today issued a statement over the matter.

He said: ““From the end of the 2008 season, we made it clear to both the RFL and our fans that for the 2009 season we would elect to play our home games on a Friday night for both playing and commercial reasons.

“However, the RFL have the authority to veto the staging of any of these games if it would impact on the full-time employment of players with part-time clubs.

“Given the unique make-up of the division, with there being only one other Lancashire club in the league, this has had an effect on the number of games we can stage on a Friday evening.”

He added: “The fixtures against Toulouse, both home and away, were always going to be staged on a Saturday night as part of their entry into the competition.

“We then canvassed the rest of the clubs in the division to see if they would be willing to play on a Friday night.

“Fixtures were arranged with those who gave a positive response but some were unable to do so given their players’ work commitments.

“However, the overall response was a keenness to play evening fixtures and the decision was taken that where a Friday night fixture was not achievable, we would look to play on a Saturday at a time which would not eat into fans’ Saturday evening social commitments.”

Bonney added Vikings' staff had surveyed a number of fans to ascertain the favoured kick-off time on a Saturday.

He stressed: “One of our initial reasons for the change from a Sunday to Friday was the lack of competition from the Premier League.

“Whilst on occasions, the Saturday night fixtures might clash with a televised football game, there will be less of an impact as there would be on a Sunday when Sky TV tends to show games at 2pm and 4pm as the Premier League season draws to a close.

“We believe that 2009 will be a great season for the club and it is our aim to make match night, whether that be a Friday or Saturday, a great event at the Stobart Stadium Halton.

“In 2008 we broke the league attendance record and it is our ambition, with your support, to break it again in 2009.”

Fixtures are subject to change because of Sky TV schedules.

Widnes will play one Northern Rail Cup group match on a Friday evening and the other on Saturday night.