Widnes Viking chairman Steve O'Connor says he is "determined" to take the club into Super League after they were not granted a licence.

Vikings were not among the 14 clubs awarded licences to run from 2009 to 2011, with no chance of promotion.

"I intend to be here for the long run and I'm determined that we'll take the club into Super League," O'Connor told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It's obviously going to be harder than I thought and we will push on."

Many rugby league insiders felt Widnes had a strong case for inclusion into Super League.

Despite his disappointment at seeing his side miss out, Vikings head coach Steve McCormack refused to point fingers at clubs, which some Widnes fans feel are weaker than their own side.

McCormack said: "Everyone has their opinions on who should be in and who should be out but the bottom line is we haven't got in.

"It would be very easy to criticise other clubs and criticise the decision makers at the Rugby Football League but as a club we'll respect the decision they've made."

McCormack is now looking to the future and making it into Super League in 2011.

"This club will always survive. Over the next three years this club will get bigger and better and we certainly won't fail next time around."

O'Connor attempted to temper his disappointment at Widnes' failure to enter Super League on this occasion by looking to the future.

"I'd like to think that I'm an objective sports fan and I absolutely know that you have to have the bad days to recognise the good days.

"We'll be very, very successful in the league that we play in and we'll provide an irresistible addition to Super League in the future."