Francis Cummins
We’ll start with the obvious. Cummins has been handed the role on an interim basis and will effectively interview for the job while in the hot seat.
Cummins has experience of coaching at this level having done so with Bradford during their torrid time in which the club went into administration and endured all sorts of problems.
But Cummins came out of the whole ordeal with his head held high and earned great respect for the way he handled the situation.
It would be wrong to judge him on his time at the Bulls, but he still has a chance to put that right.
Jason Demetriou
A man who is forever linked with vacancies in this country is Jason Demetriou, a man who played for Widnes many years ago.
The 42-year-old spent several years at the Vikings before further spells with Wakefield and Keighley.
Since his playing days, he has had quite the grounding in the coaching scene, working as an assistant at North Queensland, St George Illawarra and most recently at Brisbane, working under England head coach Wayne Bennett.
He’s coached at NSW Cup level too. Eventually, he’ll want his chance, and Widnes could be a good fit.
Andrew Henderson
Henderson has built a fine reputation during his days at London Broncos, playing a key part in their resurgence at Trailfinders.
Now, he’s the assistant coach at Warrington, working under Steve Price with the Wolves going well in Super League.
Henderson has made no secret of his desire to become a head coach, but whether he’d want to do it with Widnes in their current position remains to be seen. That said, there’s no doubting he’d be a good candidate.
Neil Henry
A coach currently on the unemployment line is Henry, who has been linked to many jobs over here in the last several months.
Both Leigh and Huddersfield were strongly linked with the 57-year-old, who left Gold Coast Titans last season.
Well respected Down Under, a short-term role might suit Henry, and Widnes would have to consider that if the option was there.
Richard Marshall
He’s worked against the odds, punched above his weight and nurtured young talent into the first-team setup.
The remit for the next permanent Widnes coach will demand qualities that Marshall has proven he has during his near four-year spell at Halifax.
During his time with the Championship club, Marshall has guided them to top four finishes twice in three years, despite having a budget dwarfed by their rivals who also boast full-time status.
He also pushed for a reserve-grade, and since establishing one, Fax have seen a stack of players come through and become key components in their first-team. With Widnes’ academy thriving, having a man who can help the development of young players is massive.
Marshall ticks a lot of the boxes, and Widnes would be wise to consider him should Cummins not get the job.