KEIGHLEY Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett has defended Paul March in the wake of the club’s relegation and insisted more players would be signed following the departure of James Feather.

It was announced this week that club captain Feather is to join newly-promoted Hunslet Hawks, who will replace Cougars in the Championship next season.

Fawcett paid tribute to Feather and admitted Cougars could not match the wages on offer from Hunslet as the club gears up for life in Championship One.

Cougars have threatened legal action against the RFL following the dual-registration saga which saw Batley stay up at their expense – which Fawcett said had led fans to point the finger at player-coach March.

The Cougar Park chief said: “It seems that some of the supporters are now beginning to blame him for the relegation.

“This is clearly not the case and I will spell out why.

“There is a logical reason why we continued with Marchy. In the face of dual registration and with a lower budget than 2012, his team achieved the best win ratio and best bonus points ratio for any Cougars team since 1996.

“Our team last season achieved a better performance than the JD (Jason Demetriou), Korky (Michael Korkidas), (Sam) Obst and (Semi) Tadulala team of 2012, despite this season being a longer season by eight games.

“It is only a quirk of the restructuring and other teams playing ineligible players that has led to the relegation. Let’s not forget the reason why we are where we are.

“At the moment, given the slowness of the RFL response, we have to assume we are in Championship One next season and must cut our cloth to fit.

“We are in talks with a number of players and hope to begin announcements soon of some new signings.

“If we get ‘upside’ out of the process we are going through with the RFL, we will make even more signings.”

Although Feather this week departed, Cougars did announce the signing of David March, who becomes reunited with his twin brother Paul.

David March led Hunslet to promotion last season and Fawcett added: “Buster (Feather) is a much-loved member of the Keighley Cougars family.

“I know this decision will have been very difficult for him and I think the fans should support him in whatever he decides. Although his passion is the Cougars, playing is his job.

“Hunslet are currently in a position to offer Buster more money and playing in the Championship. We can do neither at the moment.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank him for the years he has been at the club and wish him good luck.

“We’ll miss him and hope to see him back. We did, however, sign David March to play alongside him.

“David March played very well in the Grand Final (for Hunslet against Oldham) and the last time Paul March played with him he scored 27 tries in one season.

“David was available and can provide this much-needed experience. Some of our players are young and potentially exciting for next year and they need some older heads to guide them on the field.

“The squad for next year is gradually forming. Given the situation, I think we should all pull together and support the squad so we enter the season on a positive.”