Widnes not yet ready for Super League - coach

Widnes Vikings coach Allan Coleman says the club is not yet ready to compete at Super League level should a proposal to bring back promotion and relegation be passed.

Batley Bulldogs reportedly set to propose the reintroduction of the format at an RFL council meeting on 4 December, amending the current system in which the 12-club Super League is made up of the top-ranking clubs under grading criteria set by media giant IMG.

Under the recommendation, if a club wins the second-tier Championship title and is a lesser-ranked 'Grade B' club, they would replace the lowest-ranked Grade B club in Super League and the top flight would expand to accept the second-tier title winner should the top flight comprise exclusively Grade A clubs.

"I'm all for it [promotion and relegation]. It needs to happen. But clubs need to have some honesty within that," Coleman told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"If you ask me truthfully whether Widnes are ready for Super League, then no we are not. We're no fools.

"But will we be in 12 or 18 months or two years? Yes I am confident we will. We've got to build something slowly."

The Vikings have not played in Super League since 2018 and went into administration the following year but they have maintained second-tier status ever since.

Widnes slipped from 16th in the initial gradings in 2023 to 22nd in the 2024 gradings, but retained their Grade B status.

The club moved down the rankings despite a fifth-placed finish and a play-off place this year, up from ninth position and missing out on a place in the play-offs in 2023.

"Last season, we achieved the play-offs. This year [in 2025] we've got to get higher than that. We've got to get a home play-off game and finish in that top two," he added.

"That is progression for me. We've got to improve crowds. Our youth development will be bigger and better next year, I'm 100% confident in that.

"We have to be a better team and if we can tick all those boxes, I'll be a really happy coach - but we need to do that consistently."