Keighley Cougars Stun Rugby League World with Explosive Statement on Sacking of Head Coach Matt Foster
The owners of League 1 side Keighley Cougars have launched an extraordinary statement, offering a detailed explanation for their decision to sack head coach Matt Foster, despite the team’s impressive start to the season.
In a lengthy statement, the Cougars’ owners allege that Foster refused to engage with or disagreed with several player signings made by director of rugby Jake Webster. The club claims that Foster was hostile towards Webster’s recruitment efforts and even threatened to resign if certain players, such as fullback Brandon Pickersgill and hooker George Flanagan, were signed.
The statement also reveals that Foster did not provide training schedules or season progression plans, and that senior players and staff had advised the club that a change in head coach might be necessary. After Sunday’s draw with Rochdale, the situation came to a head, with Foster reportedly telling the club that he could no longer work with Webster.
“Things were not right, and that things were getting worse.”
Keighley’s owners said they were forced to make the difficult decision to part ways with Foster, suggesting that a mid-table finish in League 1 would be less stressful and less expensive than their current ambitions.
The Cougars also revealed the reasons behind the sacking of their previous head coach, Rhys Lovegrove, last year, stating that they had kept the details private at the time to protect the coach’s future career opportunities.
This explosive statement from Keighley Cougars has sent shockwaves through the rugby league community, providing a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes turmoil and decision-making processes of a professional club.
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