The Keighley News: News from across Keighley and surrounding areas.

Compromise over Cougar legal fees

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday 12th Sep 2001.

A deal has been thrashed out over legal fees which were threatening to de-rail plans to rescue rugby league in Keighley.

Solicitors and the new consortium set up to revive the Hard Ings Road club have agreed to a compromise over the £10,000 conveyancing fees.

Keighley Cougars went bust owing £100,000, but the debts were wiped clean following a liquidator's meeting two weeks ago. But within days the new partnership was presented with a conveyancing bill which was so high they feared it would jeopardise the club being re-formed.

Neil Spencer, former director of Keighley Cougars, who is leading the new partnership, said: "We came to a compromise acceptable to both sides. There is still a fee there but it is more in line with what we were thinking."

Mr Spencer is now drafting a letter to the Rugby League seeking the new club's admission to the Northern Ford Premiership.

The deadline for the application is Friday but the Rugby League Board, which will ratify the application, does not meet until the first week in October.

Mr Spencer said: "I'm optimistic that things will go well. I've been talking with the rugby league as things have gone along."

Mr Spencer, whose consortium partner is former Keighley Cougars chairman Colin Farrar, said the new club would be called Keighley Cougars 2001.

So far it has no official players but Mr Spencer said he was due to meet former coach Steve Deakin tomorrow in a bid to bring him on board.

"I'm hoping I can present him with an attractive enough financial package. He is the right kind of coach to bring together the players we need," said Mr Spencer.

He said he hoped to attract some of the former squad but they would have to accept certain terms.

"We will not be throwing thousands of pounds at players' wages. This project must work financially," he added.

Mr Spencer thanked the supporters who had shown great loyalty.

Keighley rugby league football club was originally formed in 1901. It drew an average attendance of 4,871 in 1996 following the club's division two triumph but it was controversially denied admission to the Super League.

Archive Home