Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett has expressed his deep disappointment following Sunday’s defeat at York and accused the team of letting down Paul March.

Keighley’s season took another turn for the worse at the weekend when they lost 32-12 to the City Knights, leaving them just two places above the drop zone.

Fawcett branded the performance “totally unacceptable” and insisted that March’s team, given the personnel in the squad and the level of playing budget, should be in “sixth or seventh” place in the Championship table.

The Cougars' chairman stopped short of criticising March and instead defended his player-coach’s record, while revealing that a sports psychologist will be used to help the team.

Fawcett said: “We had a meeting with Marchy on Tuesday morning about where we are but I have to say that a number of players let him down on Sunday at York.

“They failed to stick to the game-plan and the desire wasn’t there.

“The attitude of certain individuals wasn’t where it needed to be.

“I’m certainly not saying all of the players lacked desire. For example, someone like Ollie Pursglove gives 100 per cent to every game and there are a number of players like him in the team.

“Paul March himself was putting the effort in but his half-back partnership with Scott Leatherbarrow didn’t work on Sunday.

“We are a much better team than the league table suggests but for Doncaster to beat Featherstone and Workington to beat Leigh on the same day that we failed to pick up a bonus point at York is very difficult to take.

“Two teams promoted from Championship One can deliver big style and there is no reason why we should not be able to do exactly the same.”

Fawcett feels the Cougars’ overriding problem this season has been a failure to stick to the game-plan that March sets his players.

He added: “When we stuck to the game-plan at York at home, we beat them 34-0. Not sticking to it ended up with us being defeated 32-12 last Sunday.

“Furthermore, when instructions are coming from the bench during the game from people more knowledgeable and with a better perspective of the game then they must be executed by the players. This wasn’t done on Sunday.”

Craig Moss looks set to return to action against Doncaster next weekend and is due to play for the Under-20s against South Wales Scorpions this Saturday.

Fawcett said: “The half-back partnership misfired against York and that needs to be put right.

“Craig Moss should be back next week and that gives us another option in the halves.

“Opposing teams this season have said that we have one of the strongest forward packs in the division, so the defeat at York is actually nothing to do with the players’ capabilities – it is all about attitude – having the desire, determination and discipline on the field for a full 80 minutes.”

Fawcett says he retains confidence in March to stop the rot, adding: “He’s got a very strong pedigree when you look at what he did at York and Hunslet on limited budgets.

“York were second when he left them and he took Hunslet up to the Championship and then kept them there.”

Fawcett believes the use of a sports psychologist will help, adding: “We’ve got a guy lined up to see Marchy to get the ball rolling.

“This team is too good to be where it is and the players need to get behind the coach by putting the attitude right, the effort in and delivering a disciplined performance.

“I’m expecting the players to show their hunger and desire in the Doncaster game at home on June 23.”

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Jamie Shepherd has left the club to join amateur outfit Siddal.

Admission to this weekend’s under-20s match is free and the game is part of a Family Day at Cougar Park, starting at 12.30pm with a bouncy castle, burgers and beer. The match kicks-off at 2.30pm.