Dominance's post is understandable, but I agree with Dovo.
COUGARS SHOULD RETAIN INTEGRITY AND STAY 100% INDEPOENDENT. TO BECOME A FEEDER CLUB FOR A SUPER LEAGUE CLUB WOULD BE THE DEATH OF COUGARS.
Let's look at what is happenning.
The current RFL top brass and the current Super League clubs are obsessed with competing with other sports and money. Fair enough – we all want Rugby League to demonstrate that it is the greatest game – but not at the expense of destroying the game itself.
Compared with the Eddie Waring days I’m now happy that, with Sky etc, the players get a fairer exposure and recognition in the media. Beyond that, if it happens that Soccer is still the bigger game we just have to live with it.
But the current result is that the current Super League clubs really want all the Sky money for themselves. But they agree they have to give a bit to other clubs. So, instead of spending more of their share on running A teams, they come up with the bright idea of making lower division clubs effectively their A teams!
Cougars should have nothing to do with. Even if it means they are relegated from the Championship – but then aim to win every match the next year in Championship 1, get promoted and continue that yo-yo if need be.
Keighley needs an independent club. You can still sign players on loan if it is to the mutual benefit of both clubs and the player. Keighley should aim to bring through local young players and mix in experienced SL players if possible. There’s a limit to SL squad sizes and eventually stars in their 30’s will not get a place. You think of Paul Deacon, Sean Long etc recently and coming up Keith Senior, Danny Orr, Adrian Morley, Lee Briers, Richard Moore, Lee Gilmour etc. Keighley should look to bring in this type if they would be committed for two or three years. Cougars could also look to mix in the odd Australian who may come over looking to make a name, the odd Welsh RU player etc.
I know it all needs money – but things go in cycles. Until the next Smith/O’Neill come along Cougars just needs to maintain integrity along these lines as an independent club – whatever league that implies they play in.
The key is to keep POTENTIAL (the dream) alive. Championship clubs becoming feeder clubs lose that.
In this way it will add weight to the possibility of Bradford Council helping what should be a vibrant community club when the time of need arises for a new stand or even a new ground. OK, that wouldn’t be a Valley Parade type stadium initially but again a new ground would need POTENTIAL (ie spaceand good parking) to be improved & developed when the Cougars star rises again. Unfortunately Super League clubs will go bust in the future and in taking this long term approach the Cougars dream of getting back in the top division would still remain a reality.
In the meantime, what would attract players to Cougars Park? There’s no future in the current circumstatnces just throwing any money there might be at players. Longer term, players would appreciate better facilities and care – good training facilities, decent changing rooms, good medical (Pyhsio, doctor even dentist support), quality away travel etc.
Cougars have quite a catchment area. As well as Keighley, without pushing the boundaries too far – to Silsden, Addingham, Skipton & out to Earby/Barnoldswick there’s easily a SL club supporting catchment of a 100,000 population.
As well as a winning team, it is shown that a ground with improved seating, views, atmosphere, facilities and good cheap/free parking (& QUALITY entertainment singers etc)increases attendances. Cougar fans with an independent club could/should have pride in their area – a nice place to live, employment opportunities both part-time for players & also for family members, good schools and a proud community. This, apart from money, is what could attract the Adrian Morleys in the future and keep Cougars ALIVEAND INDEPENDENT NOW AND WITH CONTINUING POTENTIAL FOR THYE FUTURE.
Keep the dream alive!!
