‘Millions’ ready to be ploughed into Super League bid

Rovers parted company with coach John Bastian on Monday just 12 matches into the season after suffering back-to-back defeats by Leigh and have revealed anonymous investors will join the club with immediate effect and plough “millions” into Featherstone over the next five years.

Majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo said: “Rightly or wrongly at the start of the season the club had made the decision to strike at the end of the season to prepare a Super League strength squad to compete next season.

“Following back-to-back defeats to Leigh, we’ve realised we are no longer the dominant force outside Super League so the club has made the decision to raise the standards for all Championship clubs with imminent investment both on and off the field.

“The club will appoint leading coaching staff and will then follow up by announcing new squad members. Key squad members will be offered two to three-year contract extensions.”

As part of a overhaul of the domestic game, the top four Championship sides in 2015 will play off against the bottom four in Super League to determine the make-up of the top flight in 2016.

Hull KR prop Jonny Walker has been given a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Widnes forward Ben Kavanagh during the 34-29 home defeat.

Walker admitted the grade B offence and will sit out Saturday’s game at Salford.

Wingers Chris Riley (Wakefield) and Jason Crookes (Hull) admitted minor grade A offences after clashing during the game at the KC Stadium. Both players avoided suspension after submitting early-guilty pleas.