League 1

Keighley Cougars sensationally sack coach despite being top of the table

by
Ollie Mitchell
July 10, 2024

Keighley Cougars have announced they have parted company with head coach Matt Foster with immediate effect, despite being top of the league.

The side, in 13 games in RFL League One this season, have only lost one game, drew one game and won the rest, and sit top of the league – although Oldham RLFC are one point behind, with a game in hand.

Similarly, head coach Rhys Lovegrove was removed from his role at the club last year despite leading them to promotion to the Championship for the first time in almost a decade after an invincible season.

At that time, they had won 5 of their eleven games in the second-tier, which included wins against Bradford Bulls and eventual promotion winners London Broncos.

They were then relegated.

The news was met with disappointment from many fans, which some pointing back to last season as a reason the decision should not have been made.

Now, Jake Webster, Director of Rugby and former Castleford Tigers and Hull KR star, will take the side on an interim basis.

Super League Quiz: How many of these former players can you name?

1 of 20

1.

Keighley Cougars sensationally sack coach: how they reacted

Credit: Imago Images

Jake Webster said: “We would like to thank Matt for his commitment and service to the club and it is disappointing that we lose a coach half way through a season however, he leaves with our very best wishes.”

Kaue Garcia, Cougars MD and co-owner, said: “Sport is a tough business and from the outside this perhaps looks like a hard decision, but when we see performances start to dip we have to pay attention while having one eye on the future.

“For the board, as a collective, this season performances have been inconsistent and with Rochdale (A), Midlands (A), Cornwall (A) and the draw with Rochdale fresh in our minds we feel we have to be better with everything at stake this season.”

Therefore, this statement suggested that the decision had been down to performances, something that the club’s follow-up statement seemed to contradict.