A latest update on the dire situation at our friends and neighbours. Poor sods are going to be having a similar christmas to us a few years ago.

Do you think we could lend them a few young lads if they managed to make it to the start of the season (and that looks like a very big if) or make any gesture of help / solidarity?

I think that 'fit & proper persons test' that the RFL go by needs a bit of work.

Perhaps I'm overstating it, but my guesstimate is that, of all the people I know of to pass that test and take over a club in recent years, about 95% have turned out to be either incompetent or crooks?

I might submit myself to the RFL for testing. If I pass I know I'm a dick or a crim.

It would be good to make some gesture of solidarity. We don't really get on but at times like this a bit of perspective is needed.
I can remember at the start of the 2017 season, Leeds Rhinos loaning us 4 young players (including Hallas and Lilley I think) and without that support I'm not sure what we'd have done. As has been said, Keighley have to get to the starting line first, but let's hope they can do that.

It would be good to do what we reasonably can. If they can't stand the management then sadly even cash raising is not on, as we did that once and raised a bunch, but while it got us to the end of the season, it turned out to be dead money. I will never contribute again to any such appeal unless I have some confidence in the people who will receive the money.

The genuine Cougar fans are who I feel sorry for. What happened to us is still pretty raw.

I'm sure that we would be happy to lend them some players.

Why not set up a dual reg with them and just have our under 19's turning out for them each week. It'll be a better learning experience than just competing in the U19 league

The 19's comp is fairly well set up with a good level and enough clubs participating.
The comp at risk is the reserves as Keighley are one of the 6 clubs who indicated they'd be putting out a reserves side. This is now unlikely I would think. So it is our senior fringe players who would be available for loan and most likely to benefit.

Without sounding too harsh, a dual reg setup or a few players on loan is not going to solve their problems.
I would also advise not to raise any money for the club while the current owners are in charge as it doesn't look like they have the club's interests at heart currently and it's no guarantee that any donations would end up in the right place.

I agree Nothus. Our own bitter experience shows it's maybe best to see what transpires before offering help.

Do I hear correctly that they have now dropped out of the Yorkshire Cup?

I don't see how they could not drop out. The competition starts in a month's time and Keighley don't have a coach, staff or any players.

Right now they bigger fish to fry than playing in a pre-season competition - like surviving as a club

Thanks all for the comments, my understanding is Hunslet Old Boys have replaced us.

Shane Spencer has now paid half of the players, but not the staff. He is running Cougar Park Ltd as a separate entity to Keighley Cougars Ltd (although he has resigned from both as a director). My guess is all bar takings, functions and sponsorship will be swallowed by that leaving the actual rugby club having to cope on the central funding and gate receipts alone.

My guess is his shady complex legal dealings (look at this blokes record on companies house - 26 appointments) are meaning its taking an age to sort out.

Im not 100% clear as to the legal structure. RFL own the lease, COOP the land and presumably Cougar Park Ltd now own the buildings.

Although im guessing, maybe having a squad unshackled by a deteriorating ground is a good thing.

Aful that this shyster has been able to rip apart the club in such little time. Hope there comes a light at the end of the tunnel for you guys

Parkside have jumped into the cup they will be pretty competitive I think, testimony to their confidence as a club on the up at the moment they are confident to give a good account of themselves. Workington only beat them by 8 points in the challenge cup and they were lucky to do that too. Looking forward to see how Parkside go on

Keeping an eye on the T&A for news of RFL plumping for Shane Spencer/Austria Holdings or the rumoured Mick O'Neill/Mike Smith Cougarmania comeback bid.