Keighley Cougars fans to get advice on setting up trust (From Keighley News)

Keighley Cougars fans to get advice on setting up trust

12:08am Friday 31st August 2012 in Sport

An expert on setting up supporters’ trusts will speak at Cougar Park next week and Keighley fans are being urged to attend.

Around 50 supporters were present at a meeting earlier this month with the intention of establishing a Cougars supporters trust called the Pride in the Red and Green.

And the visit of Jacqui Forster, from Supporters Direct, on Tuesday, Sept-ember 4 (7.30pm) in the Hall of Fame Bar, is the next step in that process.

Foster will be give a presentation, providing advice on how fans can get involved to influence what happens at Cougars.

Keighley supporter Iain Buchan, who is helping to set up the new group, said: “The response to the proposed formation of the Cougar Supporters Trust has been fantastic.

“After what’s happened at Bradford Bulls, many fans now realise that no club in rugby league is safe.

“We, the supporters, have a responsibility to get more involved with our clubs to protect them.

“We want to get behind the Cougar directors and play our part in taking the club forward.

“Within the club’s supporter base is every type of skill required to make Keighley very successful and recapture its great Cougarmania years.

“What makes this so special is the bond the supporters have with their club.

“Already, we have supporters with marketing and financial skills and a host of very experienced retired people all wanting to get involved with the trust to take the club forward.”

Keighley have suffered financial difficulties at various stages since the Cougarmania days of the 1990s and Buchan said the proposed trust was a way in which fans could help keep the club on firm footing.

“No one can predict the future of any sports club and we should know,” said Buchan.

“The Cougars have been through more grief than most clubs.

“Until now the supporters have left the running of the club and fund-raising to the directors. What’s happened at the Bulls has changed everything.

“It’s important that everyone who has any interest in Keighley Cougars comes along to the meeting to ensure that their voice is heard and help take our club forward.”