COUGARS have been stunned by the sudden resignation of Managing director, Peter Rowe, within days of announcing the club's two-year strategy to reach the Super League.

Early last week Rowe revealed details of the Cougars plans to develop the club into the one of the best in rugby league, but at the weekend he sent a letter which dropped the bombshell news that he was leaving.

He is the second MD to leave the club this season. Abi Ekoku left in January for a job with Bradford Bulls after just a few months in charge at Cougar Park.

Peter Rowe, a former sports editor on the Telegraph and Argus newspaper at Bradford, got the job after spells with the Rugby League's head office media team, and with the Football League.

When he joined the club he said he had been keen to return to rugby league and pledged his future to the club.

"I am here for the long haul. I want to see our 3-4 year plan through to fruition. I want to realise everybody's hopes and ambitions -- but fans will have to be patient."

His resignation came after just four months in charge.

Marketing manager Gary Murgatroyd said: "He has had family problems and it hasn't been easy for him working up here while his family has still be living in Oxford. He had hoped to buy a house in Baildon soon after taking the job, but that fell through.

"He has been living in digs in Keighley during the week and then travelling home to see his family. He has decided he could not continue."

Although officials at the club knew he was not happy the speed of his departure took everyone by surprise.

He is due to take up a similar behind the scenes role with Swindon Football Club.

"We have not been notified about that officially," Gary Murgatroyd said.

Despite the blow to the backroom organisation the club has said it will not be affected by Peter Rowe's decision to leave.

In a statement the club said: Mr Rowe, who joined us midway through the current season, cited family problems as a reason for tendering his resignation.

"Having to commute weekly between the club and his Oxfordshire base made it difficult for Mr Rowe to undertake his duties effectively and it is understood he has sought employment with a southern-based soccer club."

Karl Harrison has also made it clear that the departure have no effect on the on-field performance of the team.

"The players did not have any day-to-day contact with Peter Rowe and his departure should have no impact on the playing side."

The team travels to Rochdale on Sunday aiming to put the disappointment of last weekend's second half defeat by Doncaster Dragons behind them, but Harrison has warned his players they cannot be complacent.

He hopes to have captain Alan Boothroyd back in the team this weekend and Phil Stephenson will be back from suspension in time for the trip to Sheffield the following weekend.

Richard Smith is also back in training, but Graeme Hallas is unlikely to make Sunday's squad after suffering a shoulder injury last weekend.

Harrison's message to the fans this week was: "Don't panic. We haven't become a bad team overnight. We won 14 games in a row to break a long-standing club record and if we win the next six we are in the play-off final."

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