Players out of pocket as Widnes can’t pay wages
Former Kiwi Krisnan Inu and New Zealand Warriors export Anthony Gelling are among players who could be out pocket after English rugby league club Widnes admitted it cannot pay staff wages.
The Widnes Vikings – relegated to the English Championship from Super League last season – released a statement yesterday confirming their cashflow crisis after a planned ownership change fell through.
The Vikings stated a ‘‘key member of the consortium’’ had withdrawn, leaving it back at square one.
Widnes’ board wrote off $702,000 (£370,000) in loans prior to the proposed takeover.
The Cheshire club has won the English rugby league title four times and the Challenge Cup on seven occasions and were World Club Challenge winners in 1989.
But Widnes have hit harder times in recent years, culminating in their relegation to the sport’s second tier.
Widnes coach Kieron Purtill issued a tweet urging fans to stick by his beleaguered club, which is in fourth place in the 14-team Championship after two wins from their first three games.
The Vikings statement read: ‘‘Throughout the past three months, Widnes Vikings’ Board of Directors and senior staff members have made extensive efforts to engage business leaders and individuals to secure investment to stabilise the club and overcome the potential threat of administration. This has included the Board writing off more than £370,000 worth of loans that they had provided to the club throughout their tenure.
‘‘It had appeared likely that a consortium of investors would take ownership of the club today, providing the necessary investment to secure the club’s future stability. However, at a late stage, key member of this consortium have withdrawn from this process. As a result, the club has, as yet, failed to secure the necessary investment and is unable to make its payroll commitments for all employees tomorrow.’’
Inu, 31, joined Widnes in 2018 from the Catalan Dragons, following a short stint with French rugby union club Stade Francais. He played for the Eels, Warriors and Bulldogs in the NRL and earned six Kiwis caps.
He is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
Gelling, 28, is in his first season at Widnes after seven games for the Warriors in 2018. He had earlier spent sx seasons at Super League club Wigan.
Gelling has scored four tries in three games as a Widnes centre.
The other Widnes player with a Kiwi connection is loose forward Macgraff Leuluai, the England-born son of former Kiwi James Leuluai, and the younger brother of ex-kiwis and Warriors stalwart Thomas Leuluai.
A clutch of New Zealanders have played for Widnes over the years, including Kiwis greats Kurt Sorenson and Richie Barnett.
Widnes’ list of former coaches includes former Kiwis captain Graeme West (1997-98) and exkiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott (2004-05).