Castleford need help to plan for future, says Reilly

Like many, the former Great Britain coach, who guided his hometown team to a famous 1986 Challenge Cup final win at Wembley, has been perturbed by recent events at Wheldon Road.

Tigers chief executive Steve Ferres quit last week, just seven months after taking over from Richard Wright, saying the club’s board of directors were unwilling to make the required changes to allow them to compete at Super League level.

Commercial manager Nick Fozzard then resigned on Tuesday, along with his wife Sarah who is the club’s marketing manager, to cast further shadows over the West Yorkshire outfit who have traditionally struggled financially for so long.

Frozen food retailer Fulton, who has invested millions of his own money into the Tigers over more than two decades, maintains there is no crisis.

In a statement, he said: “While this last week has been a turbulent one off the pitch and this situation is not ideal by any stretch, the club will continue to deliver a side competing in Super League as the team has done so proudly against much bigger, more fancied clubs than ourselves so far this season.”

However Reilly, who forged a reputation as one of the world’s greatest players after coming through the Castleford ranks in the late 1960s, feels the octogenerian has to open up to new ideas to help facilitate a long-term solution to the club’s apparent inertia.

“Jack is probably the only one who can ensure the club does return to some level of success and it will all fall back on his shoulders,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“He needs to make some decisions in the interests of the club itself.

“I’m sure he always has – he has put his money into that and we have to be very, very grateful for what he has done for Castleford rugby league – but, at this stage now, the club needs direction.

“There is a prospect for a new injection of enthusiasm and leadership but he – and only he – has got to make the big decision.

“The people who can decide where the club is going need to sit around a table and map out a positive agenda to go forward.

“That can’t happen until Jack agrees, lets go of the reins a little and lets other people who are passionate about the club to do their bit too.”

Reilly, 65, was dismayed to see Ferres and Fozzard depart saying: “They have both been a breath of fresh air around the place and are so passionate.

“It’s a shame both are leaving as, for the brief period they’ve been there, they’ve worked extremely hard and done everything in their capacity to turn the club around.

“Unfortunately, they don’t seem to think they can do anymore and things have got to be changed at the very top. For them to turn away like this is really disappointing but I understand where they are coming from.”

Castleford finished joint-bottom last year and are still no nearer moving to a planned new stadium in Glasshoughton.

But there has been vast improvements on the field already this season with a home win over champions Leeds Rhinos and a 17-17 draw against top-four outfit Catalan Dragons at Wheldon Road last Sunday.

They face Wigan Warriors there again on Sunday and Reilly admitted: “The team itself are performing well, encouragingly with real spirit and self-belief.

“Nick and Steve did a really good job in the off-season selling supporters good packages and there’s a really positive vibe so it’s a shame this is all happening as the backdrop. But there’s a lot of undertones too and Jack’s the only one who can sort that.

“It’s not his fault – people administrating the club in the past haven’t generated enough – but I am very concerned because, at the end of the day, the club runs through me.”

Head of youth development Steve Gill was installed as interim chief executive last week.

Fulton said: “This club has been built on loyalty and passion for approaching 90 years.

“It’s had plenty of ups and downs behind the scenes and it no doubt will in future. I’d like to assure fans of the club’s future by reiterating that the driving force of my financing of this great club is keeping it going as a Super League operation ready for the day when it can support itself and this position remains unchanged.

“I’ve faith in Steve Gill and the existing staff members that they’re united and will continue to do this club proud in the weeks to come whilst we recruit more people who want to be at the club and help us realise our aims,” he added.