The 2025 season is barely under way, but two clubs in the Betfred Championship and Betfred League One are already looking for new head coaches.
Keighley Cougars boss Jake Webster and Featherstone Rovers’ James Ford both left their positions within hours of each other on Wedesday following defeats for their respective clubs at the weekend.
Webster was the first to go, with Keighley announcing the former New Zealand international is moving into a full-time commercial and community development role, and cited mental health concerns.
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“I’ve really enjoyed my time coaching but with all the negative press, my mental health and well-being needs some attention,” Webster, who will be replaced by assistant coach Jordie Hedges in the interim, said.
“My family will always come first and I need to protect them, and myself.”
Webster spent the final four seasons of his playing career with the Cougars and then took up the off-field post of director of rugby.
It is the latest coaching change for Keighley after Matt Foster was surprisingly sacked with them top of League One last July, followed by Webster taking over interim basis.
A deal had been agreed for Anthony Murray to take over on a two-year contract for 2025, only for the Cougars to backtrack on that and give Webster the job. Murray, instead, joined League One rivals Whitehaven.
Now, after missing out on promotion in the play-offs last year and beginning the 2025 league campaign with a 44-0 defeat away to Rochdale Hornets last Sunday, he has left the role too.
It all gives the appearance of chaos at the club, but co-owner Ryan O’Neill decided turned the heat on the critics of him and Kaue Garcia in the statement announcing the coaching change.
“I want to remind detractors of what I said at a Q&A in 2023: Kaue and I are only the current custodians of this club,” O’Neill said.
“If, and when, a person, or persons, come with a new vision, and the ability to deliver it – then the keys are theirs.
“Until that happens, we will continue doing our best, doing what we think is right to make this club a success, and make Cougar Park a joyful place where everyone is welcome.
“All we can ask is that we all support the next coach and give him every chance, the chance that by some, was denied to Jake.”
Ford’s departure from Featherstone was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon in a much terser statement posted on the club’s X account.
The former York Knights boss had been in the role since August 2023 after Sean Long was sacked, but failures in the Championship play-offs two years running followed by last Sunday’s 14-12 defeat away to London Broncos saw Rovers decide to move on.
“We wish James all the best for the future and thank him for his hard work through a transitional period for the club,” Featherstone’s statement read.
Rovers are now looking for their sixth head coach in as many years, with Ryan Carr, James Webster, Brian McDermott, Long and Ford all having served in the role since 2019.
Ireland head coach Ged Corcoran, who is currently on the staff of Championship rivals York, has already been linked with the job.
