Betts signs Widnes contract extension

Widnes Head Coach Dennis Betts has signed a contract extension at the Stobart Stadium that will take him through to the end of 2014.

Assistant Coaches Mick Cassidy and Dave Banks have also penned new deals, as has Strength and Conditioning Coach Clive Brewer.

The Viking’s finished bottom of the Super League table last season in what was their first top-flight campaign since relegation in 2005. Despite the lowly finish, Widnes Chairman Steve O’Connor has shown faith in the current coaching team with the new season less than four weeks away.

Betts joined the Vikings in 2010 and said: “The reality is, these things take time, so I’m really pleased that our Chairman Steve O’Connor and Chief Executive James Rule believe I am the right person to continue this work and take things forward.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to put in place some good people in Mick Cassidy and Dave Banks, who coach alongside me and also Clive Brewer, who works extremely hard with the players in the Gym.

“If you have ambitions of achieving anything, what you need is consistency. We have taken some big strides and there is a lot of work still to do, but we are moving in the right direction and this can only be good for the players, the coaching staff and the club.”

Vikings CEO James Rule added: “When you consider that just twelve months ago the club had to undertake the transition from semi-professional rugby into a full time professional Super League organisation, the progress that has been made is nothing short of remarkable.

“Individually and collectively, we can now focus on the necessary short, medium and long term planning that is required to continue the growth of Widnes Vikings.”