This is the truth.
If the players and coaches and the coaching had been good enough, all this claptrap about, rules, invalid players,clutching at straws etc would not have been necessary.
They were not good enough and the coaching not good enough.
That is the reason why the club has been relegated.
Anything else is irrelevant

Not really as you CAN NOT have any teams breaking rules and getting no punnishment.

We had enough points to stay up in MY opinion as Batley won when they had no chance without the Huddersfield player.

I believe that you are missing the point Leaguefan.

Rules were broken and, not only do the Cougar supporters believe that we have been wronged again by the RFL but, looking at the 'Petition' so do many other supporters of the game, not only in Keighley but throughout the country and the world.

Do I understand what you are saying?

Anything else is irrelevant?



from your comments would I be correct in assuming that you are quite happy for 'Rules' that are obeyed by the majority of Clubs can be broken by a few who should not then be punished for so-doing?

Last year we just missed being relegated, this year we've got it although there is some hope that we can get out of it but in reality it really is not good enough. Last year at this time our chairman was talking about building a team that would be knocking on the door of Super Duper League next season. I think the squad is good enough to be competing in the top four but something has gone horribly wrong!

Edit: I don't think Leaguefan is missing any point, I think his point is very valid!

2013. won 8. Lost 18. pts/f 492. pts/a 719 -227 Pts 33

2014. won 12. Lost 14. pts/f 587. pts/a 601 -14 Pts 44

We have actually improved and been relegated, the issue is rules broken and going unpunished, I will continue to support the team whatever division we play in, that is for others to decide.

I agree fully

We came in a relegation spot after all


The batley thing isnt irrelevant though as if the deduction had of been upheld we would have stayed up because of that meaning if that hadn't of happened we still probably would have been relegated - I say probably because batleys illegal player did score a vital try in a winning game - Also once batley got a real boost confidence wise after they got the points back


But yes in plain black and white they should have done better Batley thing aside

This is the truth...

Batley fielded an illegible player in one of their matches this season, a player who went on to score a vital try in a game they won, if that player wasn't playing that day it wouldn't have mattered but he did, therefore Batley broke the rules by which our great game is governed. Rules are everywhere, I have rules at work that if I turn up late for work three times I get a disciplinary, if I overstay on my car parking ticket I get a fine and if I run on the pitch after the challenge cup final I'll get thrown out or arrested.

Therefore if I break rules and have to face consequences, why shouldn't Batley? Apart from a reason of not punishing clubs from a previous season,which isn't a justifiable reason at all, as that tells any club they can play an illegible player and they wont be punished.

Therefore Batley should have their proper punishment reinstated and Keighley should stay up. I now live in Devon and get to one cougar match every couple of years, so cant comment on the efforts of the coaches and the players this season, yes I am sure they could have done better this season but had the original ruling against Batley stood and we were now facing play off rugby I am sure you wouldn't be sat on your bums slating the team.

So for gods sake, why dont all Keighley fans pull together in one direction and realise that rules were broken and should be punished instead of looking to criticise the player, coaches and whoever else. I for one have signed the petition and hope common sense prevails in two ways.

i) The RFL see the error of their ways
ii) Cougar SUPPORTERS actually support the cougars and not seemingly back the RFL!!

Hear Hear, well said.

Well said 'Jeronimo'.

Both myself and my wife have followed Keighley and the Cougars since 1962 and along with our bred Cougar children, since the late 80's both at 'home' and 'away' games.

We could never understand why, after being rejected from membership of Super League, that so many 'Bulls' shirts started appearing in Morrisons! Just like Manchester United we imagined.

That apart, we now live on the south coast but always listen to commentary (albeit little) on Radio Leeds as well as receiving regular text updates from our friends who attend the games (which beats any other coverage that you can obtain). Apologies to @chappelar as he has been unable to provide the 'match blog' on a regular basis this Season for 'technical reasons'.

No matter whatever happens we are Keighley Cougars through and through, despite now living on the south coast, south of the M25 and west of Clacton.

I couldn't believe that it had happened again!

'Deja-vu' or 'Groundhog Day'.

Why does it always happen to us?

I think we would all agree that we shouldn't have been in the relegation mire these past few weeks; we should have made ourselves safe on the pitch weeks ago. I'm sure the players would agree.
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BUT... if the situation remains as it is we will have Batley, the rule-breakers, going unpunished and reaping the benefits of remaining in the Championship next season with everything that will bring - notably a lot more money which they can use to progress further as a club. They are also set to compete in the play-offs which will generate still more much-needed income.
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Then you have Keighley, the totally innocent party who have played within the rules all season, effectively punished by being relegated to Championship 1 where the revenue prospects are much, much worse. We could be set back years. We will be playing some away matches in front of about 200 people and at some home games there will be no visiting supporters at all. How on earth can this be deemed fair? Batley break the rules, yet Keighley are expected to bend over and take the punishment. This scenario offends any sense of fair play.
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In addition to that, compare the treatment meted out to our own Paul March this season. For an alleged breach of rules (which was denied and apparently not proven to any great standard of proof, in contrast to Batley's and Donny's breach which is fully accepted), Marchy was absolutely hammered by the RFL with a draconian, unprecedented 8-week stadium ban. So they hammer Marchy and Keighley but in respect of Batley and Donny - nothing. Nothing whatsoever. Any fair-minded observer can see that this is just not right.
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The RFL are doing the dirty on us yet again. Not fit to run a bath.

You have a valid point. I take it you listened to Paul March on pulse radio and borrowed "elephant in the room" from show presenter Robbie Paul. Paul March admitted that he and the team had not been good enough when it counted, he used no excuses. But then you would expect the coach to stick to his job and leave any discussion of legal action to the directors.



This, on the other, hand is complete nonsense.

Are you suggesting for one minute, that a team that broke the rules and in so doing gained three points, has not influenced the final league position?

Are you suggesting that when punished it was ok for them to appeal and get let off scot free, but not for us to appeal to have the punishment reinstated?

Are you suggesting Batley did not break the rules and we, an innocent team, are not suffering as a consequence?

Are you even suggesting the administration of the RFL has not been incompetent?

I think your the one clutching at the straws of irrelevance

That could change if the RFL continue with the nonsensical management of the game. I'm sure Oxford, Hemel, Cheltenham, Maesteg and London are easier commutes than Featherstone, Halifax, Batley and Dewsbury!

In all seriousness though, get that petition signed. Personally, I think they'll just give us compensation on top of the parachute payments and keep us down but if Marchy, Whitey, Jonesy & Tiger are staying in League One, imagine who else we can get to play in red and green next term?

Are you the guy we met in France a few years ago?

Certainly am

We are going to need compensation. To make up for the very small amount of away fans.