The 2025 season saw its first two coaching casualties today, with Jake Webster and James Ford being let go from their head coaching positions at Keighley Cougars and Featherstone Rovers, respectively.

The news of Jake Webster’s dismissal was broken first this morning, via a club statement which read: “Following a meeting earlier this week, the club owners and Jake Webster have mutually agreed to seek a new Head Coach for the 2025 campaign and beyond.”

“Jake has built an impressive squad for the 2025 League One campaign, however the result against Rochdale was disappointing and it was agreed that a new coach is needed to bring a fresh perspective.”

The statement goes on to say that Webster will revert to his previous role at the club, that of “looking at Commercial opportunities and Community development” and further elaborates that the former coach came to his decision partially due to negative press, and fan comments on social media. The former Hull KR and Castleford man took the reins at the Cougars in controversial fashion last season, after the club decided to sack Matt Foster, despite their positive start to the 2024 season. Webster’s last game in charge was a 44-0 loss to Rochdale Hornets. Jordie Hedges will take interim charge of the Cougars until a full-time replacement is found.

Just down the road in Featherstone, James Ford was also relieved of his duties after a disappointing loss this past weekend, in this case a 14-12 defeat at the hands of the London Broncos. Ford, who has been coach of Featherstone since 2023, and represented them as a player in the early 2000s, could reasonably be seen as being hard done to, as Fev currently have one win from two in the league, with their loss coming at recently-relegated London, but the club have decided to part ways with him all the same.

Ged Corcoran, the current head coach of the Ireland national team, will take the helm at Featherstone. In an ironic twist of fate, both clubs discussed here face off this weekend in the 1895 Cup, when the Cougars will visit Post Office Road.

CORRECTION: Ged Corcoran has been appointed as assistant coach, not head coach. Featherstone’s new head coach has been announced as being former Hull FC & Hull KR man Paul Cooke.

Written by Nathan Major-Kershaw (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

Source: Jake Webster – https://keighleycougars.uk/statement-jake-webster, James Ford – https://x.com/FevRoversRLFC/status/1894735862656561596?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet