KEIGHLEY Rugby Union's head coach Dan McGee felt sure his team could have pulled themselves out of the Yorkshire One relegation zone given the way they had been playing, but now they are at the mercy of the decision of the Rugby Football Union instead.

McGee's side are second-bottom and five points from safety, but had a game in hand on many of those just above them, were picking up points and had some favourable fixtures to come.

But the RFU have announced that every season (except the Premiership) has been ended with immediate effect due to the coronavirus pandemic, and have suggested the final decision on what happens to teams currently sat in promotion and relegation spots will not come until mid-April.

That leaves Keighley stuck in limbo, and McGee said: "I completely understand and support the RFU's decision but it is a strange feeling and there's uncertainty given our league position.

"We're disappointed because we were on an improved run, with points in our last three.

"We got a draw against Brods (leaders Old Brodleians), we beat Pontefract and we grabbed a losing bonus point at Bridlington, where we should have got more given our performance.

"I've felt confident going into games recently and we still had matches to play against Hullensians, who are below us, and Leos (who are just above).

"Given our form at home, I think we'd have had a good go at (third-placed) Beverley too.

"I felt we could have got out of it (relegation danger) if the season had carried on."

So what are Keighley hoping will happen now?

McGee said: "Selfishly, I'm hoping the RFU scrap the season, with no promotion or relegation.

"But Brods have been really good this season, so I'm sure they'd see that as unfair.

"They could maybe look at doing one up and one down, not two up and two down like usual.

"I've heard talk about a pool system, where they look at your home and away form and base the final standings on percentages, but I think with our record (one away win in 10), that could be detrimental to us.

"But they could just leave the league as it is, which would leave us on the wrong side of things again.

"We want to be in Yorkshire One, and I believe we're good enough, so yes, selfishly, scrapping the whole season would be the best outcome for us."

But what about the financial impact of having no rugby union for months?

The sport may be in a more favourable position than say, rugby league and cricket, having had regular games and revenue coming in since the start of last September, but that does not mean community clubs like Keighley are free from worry.

McGee said: "On the financial side of things, clubs will be looking to survive.

"It would be really sad if some clubs did fold because of the coronavirus situation, and I think it's in the interests of the RFU to show their support.

"We do well at Keighley. We have some real support here and seeing all the juniors come down on a Sunday, as well as the three or four adult teams we have, it's a proper community.

"My son comes down and plays for the Under-5s and he's sad that's had to stop.

"But we've got a great committee here and there's the likes of Russ Gibson (director of rugby) and Graeme Sheffield (chairman) who are good individuals to have at the club.

"They'll be working hard, along with the RFU (who are looking into the prospect of having clubs access business rate relief and hardship funds as a result of the pandemic), to ensure that we're okay at Keighley."