Paul Cullen is in the second season of a two-year deal with the Vikings

Championship side Widnes have granted coach Paul Cullen compassionate leave to look after his wife, who has cancer.

The former Warrington and England boss will temporarily step down from first-team affairs at the Stobart Stadium to look after his wife, Chris.

Mick Cassidy and Stuart Wilkinson took caretaker charge for Thursday night's trip to struggling Whitehaven.

Cullen, who spent his playing days at Warrington and then became their coach, joined Widnes in March 2009.

Meanwhile, Widnes winger Paddy Flynn insists that the Vikings should not let injuries be an excuse for their disappointing league form this season.

Widnes, fourth in 2009, have slumped to seventh in the Championship after losing their last five league games.

But, although injuries have played their part for the Northern Rail Cup finalists, Flynn said: "I don't think we should be using those as an excuse.

"We've found too many excuses because we've been looking for them."

Flynn told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Having Gareth Haggerty and Steve Pickersgill out all season have been big blows.

"But I think we can still win. An example was when we played Batley away.

"We had a couple of youngsters in the squad and four young lads on the bench and we went there and won.

"So I think there is no reason why we can't do that all the way through the season."

The Vikings' league form has not mirrored their knock-out form, having booked a Northern Rail Cup final meeting with Batley at Bloomfield Road on 18 July.

And Flynn, 22, admits that the players may be setting their sights on the cup rather than the Championship.

"We're doing all right in the Northern Rail Cup and got ourselves to the final," he said.

"But I don't think we're consistent enough in the league to compete for the title.

"We're not doing anywhere near as well and we need to take our Northern Rail Cup form into the league with us.

"I can't quite put my finger on it at the moment - it might be the lads' attitude or desire.

"Maybe it's the Northern Rail Cup the lads fancy more than the league, I don't know."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version