Rugby league club offer update on new stand development

Keighley Cougars have released a major update on the development of a new stand at their rugby league ground.

The Cougars were in the headlines this year for sacking their head coach, Matt Foster, half-way through the season, despite the side being top of RFL League One at the time.

They’re now in the hands of former Castleford Tigers man Jake Webster, who was unable to secure the league title after being defeated by Oldham in the Grand Final.

Last year, the club announced plans for a new stand with 2,000 seats to be built at Cougar Park.

However, before the 2024 season began, they submitted a revised application with a scaled-back version of the stand which would have a minimum of 500 seats, with room for expansion, due to “a reduced chance of promotion”.

Relegation from the Championship in 2023 certainly didn’t help things, but the club are still determined to make a new grandstand happen as they fight to return to the second division.

Rugby league club offer update on new stand development

Now, there’s a very positive update for Cougars fans, as the club confirmed in a statement:

“Keighley Cougars are pleased to confirm that planning permission for the latest design iteration of the new stand has been granted.

“Work is continuing with Bradford Council and Keighley Town’s Fund in order to satisfy the financial due diligence in order to advance the funds for the work to progress to tender stage.

“We will hope to have a further update in due course.”

With the green light from the council secured for these plans, the club can now move forward and attempt to secure funding.

Another rugby league club that recently had a planning application for a stadium approved is Castleford Tigers, who last month had their application for redevelopment at Wheldon Road given the go-ahead by Wakefield Council, after many years of unanswered questions about the ground.