Widnes part company with Simon Finnigan
Photo: Simon Whitehead/News Images
Widnes Vikings have confirmed they have parted company with head coach Simon Finnigan by mutual consent.
The Vikings lost their sixth match in a row in all competitions on Sunday. They fell to a 38-10 defeat to Batley.
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Finnigan took charge ahead of the 2021 season, following the resignation of Tim Sheens. The club finished eighth in 2021, having won nine of their 21 matches.
Things started promisingly this year, with four straight wins to start the Championship season against London, Workington, Halifax and Dewsbury.
However, since then, the club has lost against Leigh twice (once in the Challenge Cup), Barrow, York, Newcastle and Batley.
He leaves with the club eighth in the Championship table, two points behind Sheffield in the last play-off position. They face league leaders Featherstone in their next match on Sunday.
Finnigan has also had a raft of injuries to deal with this season. Jack Owens and Danny Craven have been unavailable for large periods. Their luck was summed up by new signing Kieran Dixon. He pulled up with a groin injury before Sunday’s match.
Widnes: “results haven’t been good enough.”
A statement from the club says: “We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Simon for his efforts during his time as head coach since joining in November 2020.
“Simon’s efforts as head coach at Widnes Vikings are greatly appreciated, and he leaves with our best wishes for the future.
“The squad has been blighted by injuries in recent weeks, but we recognise that results have not been good enough regardless of the circumstances.
“Performance Manager Ryan O’Brien will be supported by senior players and staff within the Club as interim head coach while the search for a new permanent head coach commences.”
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