Featherstone Rovers have moved quickly to secure their new head coach, although perhaps not the one people were expecting.
A day after James Ford was relived of his duties, the Betfred Championship side confirmed former Hull FC and Hull KR player Paul Cooke in the post with Ged Corcoran, who had been touted as Ford’s possible successor, serving as his assistant.
It is Cooke’s first head coaching role since combining that position with playing during a spell at Doncaster in 2014 and 2015, and both he and Corcoran join after spending time on the staff at Championship rivals York Knights.
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“I’m hugely excited and honoured to help lead this quality group of players we have this season,” Cooke said.
“I have worked closely with Ged previously and we genuinely are a great combination.
“We both share the same vision for how the game should be played and we know inside out each other’s strengths and weaknesses to form a good partnership.”
Along with representing both Hull clubs and Doncaster, Cooke’s playing career took in a short stint with Wakefield Trinity and saw him finish it with Featherstone.
The 2005 Challenge Cup winner then moved into coaching full-time, serving as Leigh assistant in 2016 and 2017, followed by joining the York staff.
Cooke’s 18-months as player-head coach at Doncaster saw him named Championship coach of the year in 2014 after a fourth-place finish, although he left midway through the following season to close out his career at Post Office Road.
He and Ireland head coach Corcoran will report to Featherstone football manager Ian Hardman, and Rovers’ first game under the new coaching set-up comes on Sunday in the 1895 Cup against another club looking for a new boss in Keighley Cougars.
“I’m really keen to work alongside Paul again and also with Ian to not only ensure the playing squad has a successful season, but also connects to its supporter base,” Corcoran said.
