O’Connor steps aside as Widnes chairman

Steve O’Connor is to step aside as Widnes chairman as the Vikings look for new directors to join the club’s board.

O’Connor, who bought the club out of administration in 2007, will become a main board director, with current chief executive James Rule retaining responsibility for the club’s day-to-day management.

He said: “I work closely with James and he has had overall responsibility in managing the Club since I recruited him in September last year. Our values and vision are perfectly aligned and his presence and the strategy he is implementing has enabled me to make this decision and thereby free up time to concentrate on my other business interests.”

Under O’Connor, the Vikings made a return to Super League through the licence process in 2011, having been rejected in 2008.

They have also implemented the revolutionary iPitch at their Stobart Stadium home, the first artificial pitch in professional rugby league, which is also used for training and community use.

Chief executive Rule, who replaced Julie Gaskell in the off-season, says the club needs to increase attendances and bring in more commercial partnerships to enable the club to spend the full salary cap.

He added: “This is the natural next step as we develop a sustainable business model that will help achieve our ambition of competing more consistently with the top clubs of Super League.

“Steve’s vision, energy and considerable financial investment have taken the club from administration to a position where it’s ready to make that step to the next level.  In order to do so we need to inject additional revenue into the business.

“Part of that will come from increased gates and the development of new commercial partnerships. In addition by building a Board of Directors we will be able to introduce new investment and new skill sets into the Club that will facilitate our continued growth.

“In the modern game it is unusual to have so much responsibility vested in just one person as we currently do with Steve as the sole shareholder and director. It is therefore a natural evolution for us to develop a board of directors. I am excited by the opportunity this presents and look forward to talking to local business leaders who express an interest in joining the Board and playing their part in the continued growth of Widnes Vikings.”