I couldn't agree more losing the likes of JD, Obst & Korkidas was always going to leave a big void this season was always going to be a tough order for you. Lets hope Korkidas' butchers shop gets shut down in another horse meat scandal & he comes out of retirement & back to Cougar Park

Chins up guys you did play some decent rugby in the first half good luck for the season & I hope to see you at the LSV

Can I be 'devil's disciple' here and put another point? I would suggest the call for Marchie's sacking is useless as he is a proven coach whose record speaks for itself. Looking back who can remember criticisms about Phil Larder when we got a tonking up at Whitehaven, the team was bood off the pitch and he eventually left in the wake of relative failure? Jason Demetriou's ability was questioned when we lost at London Skolars and South Wales. We were within 40 minutes of a disastrous season in the 2011 play-offs but came back in the second half against Rochdale. Some people look back to the 'golden days' of 2012 season but many others considered it a failure that the 'Manchester City' of the Championship could not mix it with the Featherstone's and Halifax's.
Looking back at yesterday's game, for twenty minutes we had Leigh rocking and I would suggest that it was only when Buster Feather went off that Leigh began to run through our defence; have a look at the stats. Marchie's recruits such as Paul White and Sean Hesketh to name two, have been in my opinion the stand-out successes this term and it is only some of the long-standing players who have still to step up to the mark.
I am sure that the gloom on the terraces transmits to the players and we may be partly responsible for some of the results. Marchie's dismissal can only destabilize the club when we need it the least. Lets get behind Marchie and our team and give them all the support we can – in any way we can.

Some pretty fair points there.



This is just what we said - our game changes markedly when we hit the interchanges. Is this a tactical issue or a player issue?

Times like this are difficult for fans, players, coaches and directors alike. We have not only lost players from last year but we have a significant injury list too. I'm not a fan of "knee jerk" reactions and would much sooner sort this internally, we would emerge a much stronger team if we could. The only problem is the clock is ticking and no one wants relegation to the division of death.

It's never been easy being a Keighley fan, this year more than most.

Seems to me that cougar fans are looking for a scapegoat, rather than supporting the team and the club. A lot of things on the forum are aimed at Mr Fawcett and Paul March. I will say one thing before Mr Fawcett can do anything he will have to talk to board of directors and it has to be agreed just like most board of directors of any company does, nothing else you can do!! Paul is trying his best for his team esp we have lost a few good players such as Korki, JD, Obst, etc but we have to get this team up to where we was last year or better. A lot of these players feel the lost of the game when we do lose, but do most of you actually support the players? stay behind wait in the bar and chat to them BECAUSE thats when they do feel the support as well as being out on the terrences. I didnt see many of you staying behind, can name a few! very quick to be on here seems to be the important thing at the mo for some of you!


Yes i agree Lawkholme Len with what you have put, but some people are quick to slate coach, team, and board!
Well Thursday we know we are going to lose as Fev are a good team, but get over it, we will get there if we just continue to give out postives to the team rather than the negatives!

here is a postive from Leigh Coach,
Rowley added: “Keighley aren’t a bad side. They’ve been through a big transition and they’ll get better over time. They’ve some good personnel.

“Everyone talks about Paul March being rugged, but he’s also a smart footballer and people forget that at times. He epitomises what Keighley are all about.”

Right, lets sit back and 'give them time ' ,see what happens , let them gell etc etc etc,
the only problem is we don't have time,,the league of doom is stood on it's tiptoes
peering over the wall at us ....... ending up back down there would be total disaster.

Also about the comments about supporting the players , I and 99.9% of others do, I have done
for over 35 years that's why I do not want ti see them relegated to the basement division.

thinhs must change and quick.

Yes you are right things must change, but new team, new coach, takes time, working as a team doesnt happen overnight, yes good point of sit back and give them time, and it will get better over in time as we go along. After all its the players and coach that play on that pitch and do all the hard work!

Well Burleycougar support them instead of slating coach and directors then!

Maybe instead of the gloom that you are bring with you to Cougars, maybe bring a bit of sunshine

I do support them,to the tune of every home and away match this season except one,
I have supported them most of my life, it isn't gloom I bring it is reality ....... we are not performing,
not getting the points and to be honest it won't be just the 'big' teams we struggle against ,
we have not got the right coach and we have not got a leader on the field either..... things will he tough
all season due to the shambles of the link up with the Super League teams.
We can all debate on here 24/7 but the matter of fact is if we do not improve both on and off
the field we will be going down.

This site really cracks me up some sometimes



It really is like been in a school playground. As we all know this forum is for anybody no matter if there a fan or not, young or elderly and no matter if they have been a fan for a week or 50 yrs. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but the stuff that gets on my nerves is the petty comments of how long someone has been a fan, a true fan, loyal fan, who supports the team the most, axe to grind, hidden agendas oh and now you have to go into the bar after the game to speak to the players to show your support



Well as the saying goes if you can't beat them join them so this is for you dkmcougars and mystery which I have a feeling I know who you are



I am now in my 20th year of supporting the cougars and apart from this year and the games where we have played in france I have always gone to nearly every home and away match to support the boys. I have also up until a couple of seasons ago due to finances sponsored the club through a player, I have also given my time to repaint all the red steal work around the ground a couple of seasons ago, last year I donated about £260 worth of ply to fix up the boarding around the pitch in certain areas and have always spent money on a replica or 2 apart from this seaason as I don't like all the green or the design. So as you can see I or anybody else on hear as I know there is and has been a lot of good people over the years that has bent over backwards for this club have to explain there support. Yes this is pathetic but its a point that I have had to make.

Now onto the shambles, I have spent sometime looking at the squads from last year and this year just to see what real change has happened. Please feel free to add any info that might be missing or correct anything thats wrong. Last years squad looked like this, Craig Moss, Jamaine Wray, Brendan Rawlins, Olly Pursglove, Gav Duffy, Danny Lawton, Richie Barnett, Ben Sagar, Neil Cherryholme, Danny Jones, Sam Obst, James Haythornthwaite, Danny Snowden, Jy-Mel Coleman, Korkidas, Feather, Lewis Reed, Shepherd, Josh Lynham, Jonny Storton, Clough, Richard Jones, Jonny Simpson, Jesse Sheriffe, Jodie Sheriffe, Paul March, Semi Tadulala, Shickell, Ryan Smith, JD.

This years squad, Craig moss, Duffy, Barnett, Lawton, White, Williams, D Jones, Leatherbarrow, Shickell, Feather, Hesketh, Pursglove, Rawlins, March, Wray, law, J Sheriffe, J Sheriffe, Sagar, Reed, Shepherd, Smith, Peltier, Mathew Bailey, Jo Chandler, Cherryholme, Lynham, Snowden, Ben Stead, Charlie Ecclestone, Jack Copperwaite, Ryan Patchett, Jordan Aitchison, James Haley, Walker (cas).

Now when you look at the teams in my opinion apart from Mossy who I think can add something to the team at the minute, who else have we got out that will honestly hand on heart come in and win games for us or if you look at it in the way that everyone else is who are we missing that can come in and be the leader that we all want and need

In my opinion no one. I totally agree with the post that Rach put on about our young local lads and I definately agree that they should always be included within in the 1st team squad but when the time is right. You could field a very good young local team along with our Sagar, Duffy, Feather and Pursglove but would they win games in the championship, no. Like I said I am no coach but I think a team like last year that had a mix of local lads playing along side proven, quality and experienced players is the way to do it.

One more thing I would like to clear up if I can, there is a lot of talk about how the big players last year was a drain on our club and did we really need to spend all that money. I don't want to reveal figures because that would break confidentiality and wouldn't be fare on the players but Tadulala was only paid when he played basically match terms so he didn't really cost the club anything as he rarely played and as for Korki and Obst they were looked after by Squad Builder. I have spoken to Mrs Proctor today and asked her if she would like anything putting on here for members and fans to see and she has asked me to put the following, If anyone has any questions then I'm sure Mrs Proctor would be more than haoppy to answer them. The only reason I am doing this is because Mrs Proctor does not do computers.

Mrs Procter "I have sent out letters to all SB members previously on the 12th Nov 2012 and then on the 14th Jan 2013 updating everyone about where the money is being spent and what is been planned. I have also asked for some help to organise events and other ways to raise money but have had no response. I would like to clear up where the money has been spent previously and what is happening at the minute. Last year under JD SB paid for Danny Jones, Korkidas, Obst and Cherryholme. It also helped to bring Coleman. This year it is paying for Danny Jones, Brendan Rawlins and Sean Hesketh. There is currently no money in the pot to bring in new players as everything that comes in is just paying for the 3 players mentioned. I am finding it harder to get monies in from members as a few have decided to cancel direct debits. It is a very dificult job to get new members to Join SB at the minute and unfortunately we get little support from the club in promoting SB. I would also like to add that every penny within the membership that is for Manorlands is always handed over to them"

Mrs Proctor is a lovely lady and has worked very hard to build SB to what it is which currently has about 55 members and she does it all for nothing. It would be really good if she could get a little help in supporting some of the events she arranges or even just by offering the time to help out with what ever she might need. One thing I have noticed from this is with the same amount of money for both JD and Marchy it is interesting how the 2 have spent the money on the calibre of players they have chosen. I don't enjoy going on about Marchy as the pressure must be immense around him but the balme does land with him and no one else, for some reason the team isn't working together. I am just looking at this realistically for example in simple terms if a team are making constent mistakes and losing as they are now then the blame has to fall on one person and that is the coach, it is Marchys responsibility to over look and be in control of the team and coaching staff. Now if this is allowed to continue, the board aren't seen to be doing anything and we continue to lose and get relegated then the blame has to fall on the Board. I can't see how anyone is looking for a scapegoat as far as I can see we are just stating the obvious that Unfortunately we are running out of time and a BIG decision has to be made sooner rather than later.

This forum was a playground a long time ago before i joined on here, its worse than women getting together and bicthing!
I never mentioned about being a loyal fan or how long etc, what I am saying is that sometimes its nice to show some players support, last year that Hall of Fame was busy after the match, and now its a disappointment I hardly see some of the people that was there last year. (thats what I was gettting at the difference last year compared to this year)
Love to know what feeling you have that you know who I am, as for dkmcougars yes i think i have a funny feeling who that is and that is anybodys guess not that hard.

I agree with this season tshirt im not a big fan of it either, it may grow on me in time but who knows. But I do like the away kit as its different to other away kit that we have had in the past

might just buy one.


I understand that some people are ranting and raving about Paul, and the board, just one of those things that we cant really do much. They has been other coaches that been through the same not giving us the results that we want etc, we did bide our time and got somewhere. Seems like we are very quick to jump on people that are responsible for losing.
Yes Mrs Proctor is a lovely lady, I agree with SB but when this other group that set up "pride red and green" thing people was less inclined to pay into this as some of them was paying into SB or worried why now 2 groups. maybe thats why people cancelling direct debit, duel reg, etc, the answers only lie with the people who cancelled the SB direct debit or I could be wrong who knows! To me I think SB is important than the other group.

You've voiced some pretty well reasoned thoughts there, but if you think this forum is like a playground you should visit some of the others on this site



Everyone's entitled to their view (within reason), it would be a boring, unproductive world if we all agreed about everything.

You say that ONLY the absence of Craig Moss has made a potential difference. Whilst I agree that we miss Craig, the BIGGEST difference on the playing/leadership front is the absence of JD. We won many matches through his sheer determination, bloody mindedness and skill on his part and we have not replaced him as a player (not coach).

We also miss Killer, who could genuinely be a game changer.

The whole momentum that JD built within the club started in a lower division where we gained confidence and a winning mentality. We brought this with us on promotion and started like a house on fire but I feel we finished the season poorly and without confidence (in my opinion). We need to do something that will arrest the decline that started last season.

The big question is [ihas Marchy done enough to arrest last seasons decline[/i? I'll be honest and say I don't know, but that first 30 mins against Leigh was some of the best rugby we have played in quite a while.

I prefer the concept of putting things right from within - if you can find the physical and psycohlogical means to improve together and turn defeat into victory you emerge a much stronger team able to cope with future adversity.

It's interesting to read that the St Helen's coach (Brown) is getting some flak with call from some fans for him to go. He had a fantastic start to last season with Huddersfield then the wheels fell off come playoff time. His start to this season with an injury hit Saints side has been indifferent - sound familiar?

However, I do accept that at some point the axe must fall, the big question is "when have we reached that point"? Manchester United persevered with Fergusson after a poor start all those years ago, yet Chelsea change coaches for fun. Personally, I'd prefer to be like Man U. (but accept that I could be wrong

)

The other question is "how are we going to afford an experienced, proven coach and all the new signings he would want to make"?

Great post Mr Terrace,sort of says it all doesn't it.

With regard to Squad Builder, Mrs Proctor does a fantastic job and her position in the
Cougar Community should be right up there at the top,the question of support by the board
of directors should not even be an issue .......SHAME ON YOU GARY FAWCETT & CO ,
Is it not time this issue was sorted out Mr Fawcett , Mrs Proctor should be given 100%
Support from the club as it would be in a much worse state without her.

One other point I would like to add is that the beginning of last season and the closed season before
this season I offered to provide totally free of charge items of club promotional memorabillia
( keyrings button badges fridge magnets etc) and also offered to sell them on match days
but never got answers back despite 3 direct emails and 4 phone calls to the club.
Another phonecall about another money maker I offered to finance ,promote
and run was never returnred. Not great housekeeping eh ?

Come on Mr Fawcett et al let's all have some sort of input, if we can't have your
head on a plate then can we have support for Mrs Proctor and other fund raising
ideas ?????

Without being pedantic, it does not say it all - it says it from one persons perspective

Would agree apart from the bit in large font. I've been reading this site for years and there are those who use it specifically for that purpose.

Errrrrrrr, No , You're being pedantic.

One thing we do agree on Mrs Proctor works hard for the club and without her we would be in a worst place than ever.
As for the above post i do agree with certain elements of what you are saying, i have been trying to make the same point on difference in squads from last year to the squad this year, i respect peoples difference in opinions, things are terrible at the club at the min and EVERYONE is feeling it. The club and Marchy are under a massive amount of pressure and if things dont improve something will give. As for knowing who i am "dont judge a book by its cover" Anyway its not about me! Its about moving forward...... after reading your post it does sound like you still have a lot to do with the club and Care!! Same as some other post i have seen regarding people offering there services and money making ideas, everyone as different opinions of what we should do, as for Marchy going surely that would be worst for moral and then a new coach coming in and starting all over again would be the worst thing for everyone. I keep saying its early days... but it is and lets just get behind the team and club and take it a week at a time and hope they keep the score down tomorrow night.
COME ON COUGARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just one other point I would like to throw in. I know many on here had their own thoughts on Sam Obst, but love him or hate him he got us some tries and I understand ended top try scorer. Thus far we've struggled to get the tries and with an Obst in the team how many of the games this season could we have gone on to win. Haven and Fax spring instantly to mind.

In my mind we have not replaced those that left on a like for like basis. JD was a big loss both on and off the field and he was always going to take some replacing, but have we replaced Obst and those experienced players who gave us something extra when we needed it?

Like people have said on here, I'm not the coach and Paul has to do it his own way. I just hope it's the right one!

Couldn't agree more with most of the comments that have been made since my last post. The little bit I put about players we're missing when I stated that I would like to see mossy back, I do also agree that JD was always going to be near impossible to replace on and off the field and like we keep saying regarding the cougar mania days we can't live in the past and must move forward but its this bit that I struggle with. It just seems at the minute our fan base is fading, the club is going backwards and the whole stadium/experience is dead on its feet. I don't want to speak for anyone but I think the reason a lot of people are struggling with whats happening is because of the last 2 seasons we have just experienced and I thought this year we could have made the team a little stronger with 1 or 2 big names and pushed on for another finish in the playoffs but this season even if the reults do start to change the best we can hope for now is just keeping away from the bottom 2 spots and ONCE AGAIN rebuild for next year. I must admit its very dissapointing to be saying them words yet again.

I have never come on here to grind an axe or have any hidden agendas at the end of the day everyone knows who I am and how I feel towards the Board, even they do as its no secret but I do think no matter who is in charge at the club we do have to try and support the Board and the coach the best way we can and for me its not just spending money at the club but also been honest and voicing our opinions about the one thing we all have in common and that is the COUGARS.

Wish I had all the answers but I don't, I am worried because it is unthinkable at what might happen to us if we were relegated and once we get Featherstone out of the way then the next 3-4 games has to be the start of us winning because if we continue to lose then its all over.

The games to follow are York H, Dewsbury A, Barrow H and Hunslet A. I think its safe to say that under normal circumstances we would win a possible 3 of these games but I'm not too sure now only time will tell.

A genuine question for those of you that are saying we wait, calm down, back Marchy and give them time. When will the time come for you to start saying that we need a new coach???

I am not calling for our coach to be sacked.

But would any other coach be able to do a better job with the players we have.

What I would like to see is perhaps an ex-professional of experience in management who can oversee football and commercial matters. With cutting staffing right to the bone I think we are missing many opportunities. Marchy is doing a great job but is only part-time whereas JD was full time, even though this sometimes consisted of being groundsman and odd-job man! I know we are not professional but nothing to stop us being as professional as we can. Some may say that we can't afford someone like this but I would say can we afford not to?

I agree with much of what you're saying, our deserved promotion (but even that was nip and tuck at times) gave a bit of a buzz and returned the feel good factor.

I'll be a bit controversial and say that last year was a false dawn. We won many early games more through the equalising factor of the dreadful weather and heavy pitches, but I suppose thats the same for everyone. When the ground dried up and teams could use their speed and agility we were exposed. We came into this year (in my opinion) with false high expectations - at the presentation of shirts to the players the chairman said "only a top 4 spot would be good enough" which in my opinion was completely unrealistic.


There are those that have.


I haven't a clue who you are or how you feel about anything.


I think we all feel the same way.


I'd say that under normal circumstances we could win a possible of 2. We don't often get any joy at Dewsbury and Hunslet away will be difficult if they have the Leeds lads, especially if we can't control Liam Hood.


There are very few on here who can make a genuinely informed decision, by that I mean having inside information (not rumour) about the interactions of the coach, players and directors and importantly our financial situation.

All I can do is look at the results and say they are completely unacceptable but what I don't know is if this is down to the coach or other factors.

A change in coach now might give us the lift we need but that is by no means guaranteed, affordable or sustainable. Ask Oldham about how much they spent yet still couldn't get promotion. Ask Leigh why they are out with the begging bowl to the fans again, the rise and fall of Rochdale, a Swinton side that can't cope without a rigged DR with Warrington....... I could go on.

The fact is we will not truly know until after Hunslet and as you rightly say - that could be too late.

You would have to add to that "under the same conditions and circumstances that the current coach has had to work in". Not knowing what these all are adds to the quandry.

For instance, Phil Veivers has had a torrid time with little or no support at Salford but as soon as money is available he is dumped. A new coach might do better now he has cash to splash but would anyone else have done a better job than Veivers under the past circumstances? Who knows what type of job Veivers might have done with the money?

But to answer your original question, yes, there must be someone, somewhere who can, but can we afford him and would he come?

Good point. I should have put that in the question.

On the comment " can we afford it ?" The answer is probably yes as the club
must have saved an absolute fortune on the playing budget with the
win lost match bonuses. The club will probably have quite healthy books at the moment with t
he team losing so much.

What now?? Yes we all new what the outcome of the game was going to be but did we really expect that sort of performance because I didn't. I know I am repeating myself but tonight was the same as previous games so predictable, same set after set, soft tackling/defence, continous mistakes, stupid penalties and the main factor LEADERSHIP and ORGANISATION it just isn't there. One thing I did think tonight from some of our players is they were trying but it was all individual stuff they wasn't playing as a team.

The thing thats getting to me is what Marchy says especially what has been put in the Keighley News and for those of you that haven't yet read it, here's a little of what Marchy has said "March has drawn encouragement from their display against Leigh on sunday and went on to say the score line doesn't reflect how much we were in that game"

He already sounded beaten by saying "HOPEFULLY we can go to Featherstone and put in a good performance" now for me why is our coach saying the word hopefully they should be no hopefully about it. He then said "we have nothing to lose and obviously we'll be massive underdogs, but we'll come out fighting in front of the cameras for the first time this year"

Lastly he states that "we need to be doing what we're good at as we build up for these next seven games which are quite easily winnable"

Sorry folks but I'm pretty sure we wouldn't even beat the Keighley select team that we have played in the past never mind york and barrow. This is not me blowing things out of proportion BUT THIS HAS TO END NOW. Our players are trying you can see it in some of them but whats the point when nothing is organised. Maybe there were different reasons or circumstances why Marchy has been successful before but what ever it was it clearly isn't working for our club. I really can't see how anyone can take a positive from tonight and as for the super league boys get rid and bring in our local lads if we aren't going to sign experienced players.

Now I know you read this forum Gary, everything lies with you and the board now. You can continue to say in the press that you are going to back Paul March but I am now pretty confident that if you continue to back Marchy then you might as well start planning how we are going to survive in Championship 1. We are in a hole and a very big one, yes we were always going to lose tonight but like that come on. I think you need to make a statement about the clubs plans moving forward and nothing sugar coated just the truth for example how long you are giving Marchy to turn this around, is there more money available for quality players and I think we deserve to know how things are going with season ticket sales and merchandise. Whats going on with the website. I think the fans are entitled to an update because the last we heard the club was making small profits every month well we must be making big profits now. Feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to post something for you if you wish to e-mail me. Compared to the last 2 seasons everything from the club has gone quite, is anything happening???

Its time to act.