VIKINGS' owner Stephen Vaughan is backing Steve McCormack to lead Widnes back into Super League despite the heartbreak of defeat to Hull KR in Sunday's Grand Final denying them promotion.
The Widnes chairman has given his '100% backing' to McCormack.
Vaughan said: 'Steve McCormack will be the head coach next year. There is no doubt about that. He has got my full backing and I will give him the resources to get Widnes to the Grand Final next season.
'Steve is a very capable coach and, with a full season behind him, I feel we can win this league with a few games to spare and then do the Final.
'Anything other than a win in next year's Grand Final will be classed as failure.'
The Vikings supremo says he and the coach are now chasing 'Super League-quality players' to bolster the squad.
He said: 'We are talking to a few players and we will bring at least six new faces in.
'We need to build on what we have achieved and Steve knows exactly where we need to strengthen.'
Vaughan remained tight-lipped over who the Vikings have targeted but he hinted McCormack will look at beefing up the pack.
Terry O'Connor has retired while the futures of veterans Barrie McDermott's and Mick Cassidy's remain uncertain.
The chairman added: 'We will start the new season with better players than we finished this one with.
'The players we have in mind will give the fans a big boost and it will show them that I have high expectations - we will bring in Super League quality and not quantity.'
Vaughan said major off-the-field changes are imminent. nVikings' retiring skipper O'Connor has told of his despair in failing to steer his home town club back into Super League after calling time on his glittering career.
O'Connor was part of the relegated Vikings' side in 2004 and had put his personal plans on hold for one more season in a bid to get his beloved Widnes back into the top flight.
But the Widnesian, who began watching the Chemics as a seven-year-old on the terraces at Naughton Park, has accepted his dream is over.
Holding back tears after the final whistle at Halliwell Jones Stadium, he said: 'I wanted to put things right after last year. I did not reach my dream of getting Widnes back in Super League and that is heartbreaking.
'I can't put it right as there are no more games left for me. There is nothing for me to do now other than beat my kid at rugby in the park.' nReports and more reaction: pages 74-75.
