WIDNES Vikings Assistant Coach Mick Cassidy has signed a new two year contract at the Super League Club.

Cassidy has been a key member of Denis Betts’ back room team since the Vikings’ days in the Championship and the former Wigan, Widnes, Great Britain and Ireland forward says he’s pleased to continue his coaching work at the Club.

He said: “I had three years here as a player and it was fantastic. I did some strength and conditioning work at the Club and when we moved into the Super League I fulfilled my goal of being a coach here at Widnes.

“To coach in Super League has always been something that I wanted to do. I’m enjoying it and I’ve worked hard to get here and be a part of something special that is being built at this Rugby League Club.”

Cassidy has been busy working with the Vikings in pre-season and already the focus has switched to being better and achieving more in 2015 – even though the Club surpassed a number of milestones this year including being named Club of the Year.

He added: “What’s good about that award is that it shows how much energy and effort is put in behind the scenes. You see success on the field as you get two points for a win and progression in the Challenge Cup but a lot of time what goes on behind the scenes isn’t always brought to peoples’ attention but there’s so much work that goes on in the office at the Vikings, in the community with the young players in the scholarship.

“Not all that is seen but people know within the Club how hard they work. We have volunteers and people working part time as well who do far and above what is asked of them. The Club is really pushing forward, you can see that it’s moving on and the hard work that’s gone in to date is paying off.

“It was a great year last year for us. It was the first time we’ve reached the Play-Offs in the Super League competition and the first Semi-Final for a very long time and the lads who played will be a lot better off next season for experiencing those big challenges. We are looking forward to next year and improving again, week on week.”

Widnes Head Coach Denis Betts said: “I’ve known Mick for a very long time and he’s made a successful transition from player to coach. He is an important part of the culture and environment that we have created and he’s really making a big impact as one of my assistant coaches. I’m really pleased that we’ve managed to tie Mick down for another couple of years as he’s doing a very good job here.”