A former Hull FC and Hull KR player has landed a new role as head coach of Championship side Featherstone Rovers.
Featherstone axed head coach James Ford following Sunday’s shock loss to London Broncos despite Fev having defeated Doncaster in Round One.
Even more bizarre was the fact that the club had shared a message of support for Ford via their social media in the days before his sacking.
The man who has been appointed to replace him is former Hull FC and Hull KR man Paul Cooke with the ex-England international already part of the set-up at Featherstone Rovers.
Cooke had been part of the York Knights’ coaching staff but made the move to join Featherstone in the off-season, landing the role of an assistant coach on a one-year deal.
He’s ascended to the head coach role very quickly, just two games into the Championship season, with Cooke set to lead the Flat Cappers out against Keighley Cougars, who have also sacked their head coach, this weekend.
Ex-Hull FC and Hull KR man Paul Cooke lands Featherstone Rovers job
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
News of Cooke’s appointment was announced by Featherstone on their club website with Rovers also confirming the appointment of Ged Corcoran as an assistant with the Ireland head coach having left York Knights to take up the role at Post Office Road.
The statement read: “The Club are pleased to announce that Paul Cooke as Head Coach and Ged Corcoran as Assistant Coach will join Ian Hardman in taking the Club forward following yesterday’s departure of James Ford.”
Speaking on his new role, the ex-Hull FC man said: “I was sad to see James Ford leave but I know from my previous spell playing at the Club how passionate the Rovers fans are about their team and I’m hugely excited and honoured to help lead this quality group of players we have this season.
“I have worked closely with Ged previously and we genuinely are a great combination, we both share the same vision for how the game should be played and we know inside out out each other’s strengths and weaknesses to form a good partnership. Together with Ian’s history at the Club and knowledge of the playing squad, we are confident we can look forward to a strong 2025 season.”
New assistant Ged Corcoran added “I have always had a great respect for the Featherstone Club, its strong supporter base and the place the Club has at the heart of it’s community. I have also watched with interest since Paddy’s involvement at the Club, the efforts being made to reestablish the Club. I’m really keen to work alongside Paul again and also with Ian to not only ensure the playing squad has a successful season but also connects to its supporter base.”
