Cooke reveals intent to help Featherstone

FORMER FC AND KR STAR ISSUES STATEMENT

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Featherstone Rovers' head coach Paul Cooke

(OLLY HASSELL/SWPIX.COM)

PAUL Cooke has released a statement outlining his intention to help restart Featherstone Rovers.

Cooke was head coach of the West Yorkshire club last year, who have since fallen into administration and were denied RFL membership and subsequent entry to the Championship and Challenge Cup competitions for the 2026 season.

The RFL's decision was made after it was deemed the one consortium interested in taking on the club was unsuitable. That consortium had ties to former chairman Mark Campbell.

However, Cooke, the former Hull FC and Hull KR halfback, is willing to help any interested parties now restart the club, and has outlined his interest in becoming part of a consortium that could begin a fresh start for rugby league in Featherstone.

It is hoped that a fresh consortium can be found to allow Featherstone to retain their place in the 2027 Championship, with Cooke willing to 'lend support, advise, or become part of any consortium which forms a solid rebirth of the club'.