Four players to depart Vikings at the end of the year (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Four players to depart Vikings at the end of the year

12:12pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 in

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FOLLOWING hot on the heels of Toa Kohe-Love’s decision to hang up his boots, Widnes Vikings have today announced that they have not offered contracts to four of their existing squad members.

The coaching staff has thought long and hard about these decisions, none of which have been easy but unfortunately such sacrifices have to be made as they plan ahead for 2011 and beyond.

The four players who will all move on at the end of the current campaign are Mark Smith, Lee Doran, Scott Yates and Matt Strong.

Sporting Director, Terry O’Connor said, “We’re not alone in this predicament, as every single club up and down the country are in the same boat as us, and will be making similar tough announcements in the coming weeks.

"On behalf of the club, I’d like to personally thank each of the players for their work whilst they were here at Widnes. Every one of them has been the consummate professional both on and off the pitch.

“Mark Smith has given us six years of outstanding service and has been a stand-out performer throughout.

“The same applies for Lee Doran who has offered the team a great deal and has always shown a great appetite for work, as his team mates will tell you.

“Scott Yates and Matt Strong are two youngsters who have worked their way through the in-house systems here at the club but unfortunately, for whatever reason, things simply haven’t worked out as expected for all parties”.

Assistant coach Stuart Wilkinson added: “Collectively, the coaching staff has had many a sleepless night over the past few months whilst pondering which of our players we should retain and by the same token, release.

“Mark, Lee, Scott and Matt have all worn the Widnes shirt with pride and never given less than their best, which made our selection even more difficult.

“They will all leave the club with our best wishes for their own individual futures, but whilst it’s always difficult saying goodbye to such quality professionals, and friends, we can take great hope from the fact that we have a fantastic conveyor belt of talented youngsters already in place here at the Vikings and this is firmly where we see our future teams being built around”.