Minnows fearful of Sky caving in

It would not be surprising if there was a slight air of uncertainty at the Halton Stadium this afternoon, because Widnes and Warrington, who meet in an eagerly-awaited Super League derby, are typical of clubs wondering whether they will have any television income next season.

Like the rest of the clubs outside the big five of Leeds, Bradford, Wigan, St Helens and Hull, the Cheshire neighbours voted in favour last week of accepting Sky's £53m offer for rights to continue screening games for another five years.

Despite a 7-5 majority, the buck was passed to the Rugby League's board of directors - a body without club affiliations - which decided last Wednesday that it could not accept the deal in its present form. But those expecting the smaller clubs, who initially voted in favour, to be jumping up and down in fury have been disappointed.

"It wasn't a black and white split," says the Widnes chairman, Tony Chambers. "Our feeling was that we could accept the offer, but there are things in that contract which we would like to have more flexible."

Where clubs, large and small, appear to be united is in their desire to be able to negotiate separate, terrestrial TV contracts for inter-nationals and the Challenge Cup.

"We'd like to see it all settled but it's important to get the contract right. If there was no Sky contract it would put a bit of pressure on, but the uncertainly is not something we can't cope with. It's better than having a contract we aren't happy with." Chambers does not believe that Sky's "final" offer is strictly a matter of take-it-or-leave-it. "It's more a matter of them having other contracts to negotiate and us having to wait until after that," he says.

It is a price, in continuing uncertainty, that Super League clubs seem willing to pay, although not all will fully share the conviction of the Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington, that clubs would recoup much of the shortfall, were they not on TV, through increased attendances.

This afternoon is a good test of Widnes' potential when they can stage games at their optimum time. "It's the sort of game we were dreaming about when we were at the lower end of the Northern Ford Premiership a few years ago," Chambers says.

"The two clubs are on a par, with just one point between us, so there is everything to play for. Our ground record is 8,840 against Bradford last season, so it would be nice to get something with a nine at the start of it."

It is, of course, not a match that is on television. Whether the game can hold its nerve and confront the possibility of a lot less TV and a lot less money is a question that will be kicked around for a while.

For those who aspire to these sorts of problems next season, today's key game is between Leigh and Salford. Leigh are a point clear of last year's relegated side at the top of National League One, but are without the injured Paul Rowley and Neil Turley, plus the suspended Dale Cardoza.