CONFIDENT Widnes Vikings chairman Steve O’Connor declared that fans will not be happy just to be playing Wolves and Saints in two years time – they want to beat them.

O’Connor was speaking at the official launch of Vikings’ Super League bid for a licence for the period 2012-14.

The club has already met the first criterion of on-field success by lifting last season’s Northern Rail Cup in Blackpool.

And with at least one franchise guaranteed to be given to a Championship side, the Vikings boss is very optimistic that Widnes will soon be taking their place at the top table.

O’Connor said: “We believe the organisation is in much better health than it was last time.

“As much as we thought it was a robust application last time, we were very much in our infancy.

“When our Super League application was turned down last time we were told it was because as a club we couldn’t display a track record of stable and prudent management.

“When the applications for the next three-year period are submitted later this year we will be able to do that.

“We have a much more sustainable future with some really good talent coming through and some robust pathways to get youngsters through to the first team.

“We have also got a coach that is very keen to see a young Widnes team in his own image.”

Apart from being one of only three teams to have ticked the playing box so far, the former World Club Champions boast a remarkable rugby league history, a well-appointed 13,400 capacity all-seater stadium, a youth system that has continued to produce and nurture players and an average attendance last term of 3,808.

“Super League is the objective and no stone will go unturned in our quest to bring top flight rugby league back to this town and the borough of Halton,” said O’Connor.

“We will add value to Super League. We have made the RFL’s job easy by winning the Northern Rail Cup.

“I am 100 per cent confident that our application will be successful.”

Widnes missed out on a place when Super League was first set up in 1996 but won promotion to the top flight in 2001.

They lasted four seasons in the top flight until they were one of two teams relegated in 2005 to accommodate the entrance of Catalans Dragons to the top flight.

Two failed attempts to win that place back in Grand Finals proved costly and the club went into administration at the end of 2007.

But with O’Connor at the helm, the club has steered a more stable course – and success has followed.

The club has started the season well, reaching the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup with three wins and a draw and overcoming injuries by drawing on a pool of young Widnesians.

Coach Paul Cullen said: “It is not just talk about bringing players through.

“Five of the players on the teamsheet against Halifax are club trained, have come through the ranks here and have never played for any other club.

“It was a really pleasing to read a newspaper report featuring an interview with Halifax coach Matt Calland who talked about their experience versus our youth. It is now being recognised by other coaches within the game.

“We had the facility to go out and buy some experienced players and bring in some really big units and quality and utilise that type of talent in the Championship this season “We deliberately chose not to do so. We ticked the box so that provided us with a luxury not o have to chase experienced players. We have used 26 players in our games so far this season and that shows we are up and running with it.

“It is part of what Steve and Terry O’Connor and myself are really interested in and is great that we are getting these players ready for when Super League comes around.

“So hopefully we will only have to add to that rather than having to rebuild a side from scratch.”

O’Connor is confident that the club, with success, can swell their fan base to between 8,000 and upwards in the top flight.

“Fans will come to watch a team that will play rugby. We have a hard core of fans but we need to grow that base.

“The Widnes fans want to beat Warrington, St Helens and Wigan – they don’t just want to be in a game with them to get humiliated. We genuinely want to compete with them,” he said.

Coach Paul Cullen said: “It is not just talk about bringing players through.

“Five of the players on the teamsheet against Halifax are club trained, have come through the ranks here and have never played for any other club.

“It was a really pleasing to read a newspaper report featuring an interview with Halifax coach Matt Calland who talked about their experience versus our youth. It is now being recognised by other coaches within the game.

“We had the facility to go out and buy some experienced players and bring in some really big units and quality and utilise that type of talent in the Championship this season “We deliberately chose not to do so. We ticked the box so that provided us with a luxury not to have to chase experienced players. We have used 26 players in our games so far this season and that shows we are up and running with it.

“It is part of what Steve and Terry O’Connor and myself are really interested in and is great that we are getting these players ready for when Super League comes around.

“So hopefully we will only have to add to that rather than having to rebuild a side from scratch.”

O’Connor is confident that the club, with success, can swell their fan base to between 8,000 and 10,000 in the top flight.

“Fans will come to watch a team that will play rugby. We have a hard core of fans but we need to grow that base.

“The Widnes fans want to beat Warrington, St Helens and Wigan – they don’t just want to be in a game with them to get humiliated. We genuinely want to compete with them,” he said.