Featherstone Rovers boss, Paul Cooke, has revealed he has no idea where he, or any of the players, stand in regards to being at the club next year.

The Rovers revealed earlier this week that they would be entering administration, as they looked for a way out of their ever-increasing debts, with senior figures Mark Campbell and Chris Hamilton setting up a new company to try and build a new club free from the debt.

Like Salford Red Devils, it is unknown whether either club will be ready to go on January 17 when the Championship season kicks off, with both sides needing to secure players, staff and much more before the season kicks off in just over a month’s time.

Cooke, who took over from James Ford as Featherstone boss for 2025, has given a tell-all interview to BBC Radio Leeds, explaining his current position, and has admitted he knows very little about what is going on at the club as it stands.

Revealing that players and staff were owed wages for the last three months, Cooke explained the side’s decision to enter administration, believing it is what was needed for there to be an outcome.

“It’s concerning isn’t it. I think it was the end of September, and nobody has received any pay since then, none of the players.

“I think I expected the club to go into administration, I think it makes business sense to put it into administration and start a new company up.

“I think that’s partly what I would have done if I’d have been in the same position as Mark Campbell and Chris Hamilton.”

Cooke revealed that, as it stands, he is contracted to Featherstone for 2026, signing a two-year deal when he joined the club. However, lack of communication from Campbell and Hamilton mean he is currently in limbo about his future as head coach.

He said: “I’m not sure where the club’s heading, and I’ve asked Mark Campbell on numerous occasions to let me know if I’m going to coach the team next year or not, and he says he can’t give me that information, so I’m a little bit lost with it, if I’m honest.

“I’m not sure where I’m at, I’m not sure where any of the other staff are at and I’m not sure where the players are at. It’s concerning that there’s not very much information coming from the club, or anybody.”

Many of the players have already left to find new clubs, leaving the squad depleted heading into the new season. Cooke has confirmed that, despite the financial issues, some players have in fact signed deals for 2026, should the club stay afloat.

“[The players have] got to look after themselves, and I don’t think the club are too concerned by players that are leaving the club, because it reduces the wage bill for next year.

“It’s an interesting situation for the players, because they’ve got to look after themselves. They’ve found other clubs and their contract is less than an amount of what what they was on at Featherstone, then they can recoup that money as well.

“Every player and staff member is owed three months wages for September, October and November, nobody has been paid anything for three months and I don’t see any money coming in before Christmas, that is for sure.

“I do know that the players are protected by an insolvency policy that the RFL have, where rugby debts have got to be cleared before a ball can be kicked next year, so the RFL have got to stick to that policy and the players deserve the money, that is for sure.”

Confirming that some of his squad have signed deals, he added: “I do know that Mark Campbell has been on to a number of players, and agreed deals with them to pay them some monies that they’re owed now, and give them contracts for next year.

“I certainly know Danny Addy’s agreed to stay at the club and a couple of others, I’m just not sure where anything else is at. ”

Asked whether he thinks Featherstone Rovers will be a Championship team competing in 2026, he said: “I’m not convinced in anything. I’ve not been given any information to make me confident or not confident.

“I do believe Featherstone Rovers will be around in 2026, I do think they will make the start line. But, with what team I’m not sure, and when they’re going to start training and who’s going to coach the team.

“The players that are agreeing contracts with the club are not going through me, so I’m not sure where anything’s at and I’m not sure where I’m at or where any of the players are at.”

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