The Keighley News this week reports that Bradford council's £20,000 grant to the Cougars for their community work is about to be axed. I imagine this could be a serious blow just when things seem to be on the up at Cougar Park. In the same edition it is reported that the Council is to spend a great deal of money (about £400,000) to do repairs at Cliffe Castle. On Bradford Council website you can put your views about their plans for the next financial year and if enough people post in support of the Cougar grant it might make a difference. Similarly if we all write to the Keighley News.

Jobs may well be lost if this grant is withdrawn and it is a matter of fighting ones corner in these difficult times.

There is another way.

We can all strive to make up the shortfall by trying to bring extra friends, family and colleagues to games.

Buy an extra pint in the bar, a half-time draw ticket, even a cup of tea.

By my reckoning if everyone who turned up spent an extra couple quid a game we'd account for it. Instead of getting the begging bowl out, we'd be defiantly sticking two fingers up to the establishment.

And look on the bright side, we wouldn't have to have Br*dford Council on our shirts anymore

Just wondered how this decision will affect the holders of the BDMC 'Passport to Leisure'?

Perhaps the club could sell some defiant merchandise in protest.

"Love Keighley hate Br*dford" T-Shirts.

"F!#* Br*dford Council" car stickers.

Generate a bit of publicity/awareness and make a few quid whilst their at it.

I quite like Stealths idea here. If we as fans could assist with the deficit it may make the whole "pill" easier to swallow. On a personal level, I don't feel we have a cat in hells chance of getting the grant, especially given the fact that the Dulls and City have lost theirs. As I have stated on another thread the only possible points of argument could be notice or strong public opinion. I have sent my note the the council.

I would also hope the club have forecast on the conservative in terms of projected attendances and hope that we exceed expectations which could also assist. I think this will affect the community part of the Cougars project and hope this wouldn't impact on the playing squad, but this again seems like a further act of contempt of BMDC towards the Cougars.

What has the building work at Cliffe Castle got to do with this?

While not wishing to get in to political arguments ...

Whilst the Cougars is a business ([iand actually the money was going as far as I'm aware into the Community Foundation that operates independantly from the Club[/i ), as the towns only professional sports club with a long history that is relevant to many of its citizens , it is as much part of the fabric of the town as something like Cliffe Castle and the clubs survival through this down turn will be seen by many who pay Council Tax as important, as the restoration of an historic building is to others.

Personaly I dont buy all the stuff about Bradfords £24 milion ([i(and the rest)[/i 'puddle' being agreed on before the the recession, as far as I'm concerned it was an obscene decision from the start that should never have been pursued. That money would have paid for the Cougars , Bulls , City , Cliffe Castles Restoration , the Shire Horses at the Industrial Museum , Manningham Baths staying open , and other stuff that people actually care about .

And dont get me started on Keighley Town Councils bonkers £1million pound 'Police Museum'......thats a hell of a lot of money going into Keighleys yobbos being allowed a nostalgic wander through the cells where they spent the night after battling in Champers ,101, Rat Trap , K2 etc...

Good point Rach. Couldn't agree more about the decision to place the town council in debt for many years over the conversion project of the old police station. This will cost over £1M whereas we are talking about £20K for schools work/youth diversion etc.

It is a great deal of money that Bradford Council is spending when they say they can't afford a very small sum for the Cougars Community work.

Its a sum of money that needs spending.
The work is long over due.

You say its a small sum. If Keighley get it, then you have to give it to the bulls and city.
That would make it 60k.

Now if these clubs get it. That amount has to be cut from other services.

Please tell me which ones you would like to see cut. Also tell me which services you would be happy to see people laid off?

With the greatest respect £20,000 is not a "very small sum" of money.

It is more than what I and many people in Keighley earn in a year.

It is more than the council tax revenue generated by my entire street.

Our club should have been made aware of this long ago, not waited until now.

If the two major sports teams in Bradford had their funds cut, then we should have been made aware that we were next on the list.

Very poor from a useless council again.

Referendum on Keighley breakaway NOW.

When you look at it in terms of the what the council are looking to save it's small, but agreed that in real terms it's a large amount. Furthermore, to the Cougars it's no doubt substantial.

Jim, you're making me think you don't believe the Cougars should get the money?!

If the bulls and city are not getting it. Neither should we. It has to be fair or not at all.
When the country is skint, hard choices have to be made. Some people are going to be unhappy about it.

Maybe you can answer my question, [iIf Keighley get it, then you have to give it to the bulls and city.
That would make it 60k.

Now if these clubs get it. That amount has to be cut from other services.

Please tell me which ones you would like to see cut. Also tell me which services you would be happy to see people laid off?[/i

I agree with the £60K aspect and have stated so on the other thread. This is a grant, not a service and the council provide both grants and services. Maybe some people feel that grants should be better considered and prioritised given the current situation. I'm not sure the old police station would be such a priority and will put the town council in debt for many a year, however, this has been agreed and work ongoing. If city and the dulls don't get it and the Cougars have had the appropriate notice I would tend to agree that it shouldn't have been put in the Cougars financial plans. However, what if the respective notice wasn't given? If the latter was the case I can tend to understand the frustration.