Message from Gary Fawcett


Barry Eaton, the Keighley Cougars coach, has accepted the Assistant Coach role at the Super League team Celtic Crusaders for next season, working directly for Iestyn Harris. Barry has been with the Cougars since 2006 and has transformed the team during his tenure. Barry will join Celtic Crusaders over the Christmas period.



Cougars Chairman Gary Fawcett said “Whereas we are really happy for Barry and the career progression this move brings to him we will be sorry to see him leave. Barry has put a lot into the club and the changes are evident. He evolved the team to a point where it is capable of promotion to the Championship next season and it will do very well there in 2012. My preference would have been to see Barry lead the team for the next 4 years. However, Barry is making a sensible career move and the club supports him in his decision. Thank you Barry and I’m sure all at the club will wish you well in your career.”



Barry Eaton said: “I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone connected with Keighley Cougars. The last 5 years at the club have been a memorable part of me and my families life and i feel very privileged to have been involved with this great club. I have been very fortunate to work with such a talented and committed group of players and I thank them all for their efforts over the years. The club is in a fantastic position to really progress and become a real force in the game both on and off the field and I am sure the goal of promotion back to the championship and sustainability there will be achieved".


Barry’s final game in charge will be the Peter Fell Memorial game on 19th December with a kick off at 3.30pm against a Keighley Select side. Everyone is welcome to come down to the ground that day to give a Barry a good send off and to thank him for his time at the club.



The Cougars Board will be meeting with the Management Team later this week to discuss the next steps following this announcement. A clear requirement is for the team to focus as soon as possible on the challenges for next season and to ensure that promotion to the Championship becomes a formality. The foundations that Barry has laid down at the club during his tenure will be a key factor in next season’s anticipated successes.”

Well, we'll definitely miss him, but no doubt everyone will wish him all the best. All of a sudden, I feel a bit jittery about next season!
I think I'll adopt Celtic crusaders as my 'SL' club...

Absolutely gutted, I can't believe it.

Who the hell we gonna get in now? I'm really worried, the players played for Barry,this could be a disaster.

What about Brad Drew as player coach? he can be a replacement for Danny Jones and is well respected around Rugby League. You took a gamble on Barry to start of with.

Gutted too .. Good luck to Barry - the right stpe for his career I am sure, but what now?

First things first.

Thanks Barry and good luck with you future.

Now that thats out of the way. I think this has come at a terrible time.
Trying to find a good coach at this time wont be easy. Good coaches will already have a job sorted for next season.

Also a new coach, will have a style of play and players he will want to use. He more than likely will not be able to bring his type of player in.

We also do not want any one who is, going to be learning the ropes at Keighley.

Our chairman has stated we are going for SL.

Now is the time to show us, the fans if this is true. We have not got any big name players in, so will we be getting a big name coach.

Ellery Hanley, maybe?

We do not want a player coach.

We need a full time coach, who can fully concentrate on the job in hand.

Spot on jim, the timing is terrible.

Only coach I can think of is Martin crompton.

Talking now with mi supporters head on, but for my money Matt Bramald for head coach ......

Matt knows the club ,all the lads and has a real insight into the Youth Set Up at Cougars after a season with the reserves and being involved with the scholarship whilst he was still a player here ... another up and coming British Coach ... similar to Baz 4 years ago...

Personally far rather have someone like him than a 'Past it so called big name' like Schofield at Barrow ( Nigel Wright ...anyone one work out who's actually doing all the graft at Craven Park??)

Harlequins choice of Rob Powell as Head Coach has put to bed this idea of always choosing someone with significant playing experience as the coach in charge , in a way that both John Kear and Phil Larder have in the past proved ,wizard on the field does not always prove fantastic coach off it. For all its deficits .the RFL ,with its introduction of Larders Coaching Scheme in the 80's, has always been at the forefront of promoting quality coaches from its rank and file players (Brian Noble & Steve MacNamara not included ..) , we've embraced this in the past , appointing Barry , lets go with Matt (with Glen as backup as his assistant)

They both have the skills and knowledge we need .. do we really need to look any further ??

BRAMALD & BARRACLOUGH FOR ME....

Thoughts ???

Can see your point rach, just feel gutted at the moment and can't get my head round it, the timing is crap.

You are seriously taking the Michael.....

We need a coach that knows our players and our set up ....

Not some overpaid prima donna who will do zilch for us (see Doncaster for details)

Now Brad Drew maybe .........alongside some like Glenn Barraclough or Dave Clark (ex Barrow ) who understand the lower leagues then maybe he could be your man ...but Hanley

Must admit Rach i hadnt thought of this set up.

Sound like a good idea.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbjnf1p5eI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbjnf1p5eI