Keighley Cougars up for sale as owners blame financial pressures and social media abuse
Ryan O'Neill and Kaue Garcia have released a statement on social media
Keighley Cougars are up for sale, with the owners of the club blaming both financial pressures and abuse online for their decision.
Ryan O'Neill and Kaue Garcia have confirmed their decision in the wake of another RFL Championship defeat - 50 - 16 to Goole.
The pair have been involved in the club since 2019, when a consortium led by Ryan's dad Mick O'Neill took over at Cougar Park.
In their statement on social media: "For the past seven years, we have done everything we could to serve this club to the best of our abilities."
"We are immensely proud of many of the achievements we have accomplished both on and off the field.
"From saving this great club, to improving the facilities from what we inherited, to having the perfect campaign in 2022, to showing solidarity with the Ukrainian kids facing the challenges of war, bringing football to Keighley and also a great concert that will hopefully put Keighley on the map and make residents feel proud of this town.
"We stuck our necks out and fought the IMG involvement in rugby league, for which we were ridiculed by many– but we did what we thought was right for the sport, and we believe time has proved we were right."