Former Great Britain and Wigan forward Denis Betts will remain as head coach of Widnes when they join the Super League next season.
Ex-Wigan star handed new contract by Vikings
Former Great Britain and Wigan forward Denis Betts will remain as head coach of Widnes when they join the Super League next season.
The 41-year-old joined the Vikings last November after ending a four-year spell in rugby union with Gloucester, and has agreed a two-year contract.
"I am extremely honoured that this great club has put its faith in me," said Betts.
The Championship club, who were handed a three-year Super League licence on March 31, had been linked with high-profile coaches in Australia but ended the speculation at a press conference at the Stobart Stadium on Tuesday.
"Denis Betts from day one has always been a major part of our long-term plan to take this club back to the promised land," Widnes director of rugby Paul Cullen said.
"We wouldn't have brought him to the club if that wasn't so."
Widnes have so far just one contracted player for next season in prop forward Ben Kavanagh and will be focusing on producing local talent but Cullen, who stepped aside as coach following the arrival of Betts, admitted the club will almost certainly fill their five-man overseas quota.
"Denis will take full responsibility for the identification and selection of players for our entry into Super League," Cullen added.
"Already we have had a great deal of interest from both overseas and UK players but it would not have been appropriate or fair to enter into any negotiations prior to Denis' appointment.
"Now we will both be working hard to identify current squad members and new signings and we are determined to attract the best there is to be part of our future.
"Youth development continues to be an intrinsic part of our longer-term strategy and Denis fully supports what we are doing as a club."
