Widnes Vikings remain grounded as fans dare to dream of Super League return

Widnes Vikings will be aiming to make it four wins out of four in the Betfred Championship when they travel to Dewsbury Rams for Monday’s televised clash on Premier Sports.

The Cheshire club were relegated from Super League at the end of the 2018 campaign, ending a seven-year stay in the top flight.

A financial meltdown followed and the Vikings entered in administration before a consortium took over almost exactly three years ago and recued them from liquidation.

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, while the 2020 campaign was curtailed when Covid hit, last season saw Simon Finnigan’s side finish eighth in the second tier.

Now they appear ready to make the next step and Finnigan told Rugby League Live: “We’re obviously pleased with the start we’ve made.

“We had a disappointing season last year in terms of our league position and where we finished.

“Certain aspects of it weren’t good enough, so we were in early for pre-season and we’ve had a fairly decent start in terms of wins, points on the board and some of our performances.

“But is it only just the start and we’re certainly not going to get carried away because if last season taught us anything it’s how tough the Championship can be.

“We don’t take anything for granted because we learned a lot of lessons last year as a club and as