I think that it is time to end the vitriolic attacks on Paul March. Some of the personal comments made via this forum about about Paul March are both immature and, frankly, actionable.

Having supported this club for over fifty years, I have always considered this to be a family club and have been proud to stand alongside supporters, whom I have always considered reasonable and fair-minded. However, recent attacks upon our former coach has left a very bitter taste and, I believe, casts us in a very bad light to other clubs, supporters, players and coaches.

I do not disagree with the removal of Paul March as head coach as, for whatever reason, things haven't worked out as anyone would have liked. This is not to say that March did not try his best for the club, as I know that he is proud and fiercely competitive and our lack of success would have hurt him just as much as anyone. However, what we have to consider in all of this is that we are talking about sport and, as emotional as we can become, I believe that everyone involved should be accorded a basic level of respect. Paul March is a decent bloke with a nice family and he should not have to put up with the kind of comments that questions his suitability to coach children in schools, or indeed to be walking freely around Cougar Park. Nor should he be hounded out of his 'day job' to soothe a few bruised egos.

As far as I am aware, Paul March is well respected in local schools and I am sure will be able to encourage children to play to a good standard and inspire them to become rugby league players of the future. He may not have succeeded in achieving promotion and, like others on the terraces, I was not enthusiastic about his style of play, but we are fortunate that someone of his status in the game is promoting rugby league and the Cougars to local children and I am hopeful that it will continue.

I have also met Craig Lingard and he is a likeable and knowledgeable chap. Whether he is a "hero" or the perfect "role model" is a little early to tell, but I only hope that, whatever his level of success at Cougar Park, he is not made to fear the kind of cheap vitriol that haunted his predecessor.

Paul March tried but it didn't work out, lots of reasons why and silly mistakes in club management. We should also remember that we did win the iPro Sport Cup, so I'm of the mind that I'm happy that PM is no longer the coach of Keighley Cougars but I have no reason to try and stop his day job and wish him well in the future. Let's move on now to a brighter future under Craig.

edit: meant to say good post by Wembley37!

yes well said wembley37

Cross Hills Cougar just another embarrassing attack on someone you clearly personally blame for everything bad in your life.

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He was assistant at Batley, 'top class' is a grade earned i would imagine, lets wait and see. As for being a 'top quality person', you've probably not met Paul March, hes a decent bloke and he worked pretty hard down at CP, it just didnt work out. You seem to portray him as some kind of fairytale monster waiting to pounce out of the wardrobe and start shouting at kids.

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I suppose he must go around saying fu*$ bas*ar£ boll0%! to all the kids, also to his own kids. Mine need telling off now and again, I might ring Marchy.

Not every player can be like Jonathan goldenballs Thurston, but when yo're on the losing side and get your fair share of bad luck (we seem to get more than our fair share), occasionally you tell the ref to F off. Let it go Cross Hills Cougar and i too hope that our new superstar ex batley assistant coach is top quality and i wont be feeding him to the dogs (or kids) if he doesn't achieve immediate success.

Edit: also well said Wembley37

Bit derogative towards a fine player isn't it?

not really