Keighley Cougars can today confirm that Head Coach Alan Kilshaw has been released from his role as head coach following his request. Alan has been presented with a significant opportunity away from the club that he wishes to pursue.

Alan departs Cougar Park having made a significant impact during his time at the club, helping to establish strong foundations both on and off the field. The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Alan for the exceptional job he has done and for his commitment, professionalism, and leadership throughout his tenure.

Managing Director Kaue Garcia paid tribute to Kilshaw’s contribution:

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Killer. We are gutted to see him leave, but we understand that he has an opportunity that he wants to pursue, and we wish him all the luck for him in the future.”

Co-owner Ryan O’Neill expressed his thanks to Kilshaw for steadying the ship in a difficult 2025 season:

“It is with real sadness that we see Killer leave the club. We could not have been happier with how he was performing as head coach. In life, opportunities come along that are too good to turn down, I don’t for one moment blame Killer for following something that is right for him. I genuinely wish him every best of luck and success for the future.”    

Reflecting on his decision, Alan Kilshaw said:

“This wasn’t an easy decision for me to make, but I feel the club is in a really good place. With Ryan and Kaue now more hands-on, there’s a strong structure in place, and a lot of good work has been done throughout pre-season which I’m confident will be evident in the performances this season. It’s been a privilege to coach this group of players and work with the staff, and I’m excited to watch how the next generation of Cougars continue to develop. I’d like to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity and support during my time here and wish the club nothing but success moving forward.”

The club can also confirm that Assistant Coach Dan Burton has been appointed Interim Head Coach with immediate effect. Dan brings significant coaching experience, most notably from his time as academy and reserves coach at Leeds Rhinos. Dan will work closely with the existing coaching staff to ensure continuity.

Dan Burton said:

“I’m excited to accept the interim head coach position at Keighley. Working alongside Craig McDowell and Adam Mitchell, we have a strong coaching group in place, and continuity is key as we move forward together. What excites me most is the hard work ethic and attitude the players have shown – that’s the foundation everything else is built on. We have a great group of individuals here, both on and off the field, and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop and push this team forward during this period.”

Keighley Cougars would like to once again thank Alan Kilshaw for his contribution to the club and wish him every success in the next chapter of his coaching career.