CHRIS CHESTER has admitted that the current climate at Castleford Tigers has been tough on all those concerned with the club.
The Tigers are currently without a head coach, with Ryan Carr absent for their past two games.
Reports suggested Carr had been stood down pending an investigation, although Castleford said the ex-Featherstone Rovers coach was not involved for “personal reasons”.
Director of rugby Chester, who is currently lending his experience in a coaching capacity, leading his side to victory at Hull FC on Friday night, said last Thursday that Carr’s future should be determined “over the weekend or the start of next week”.
Former Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson has been brought in as an assistant, working alongside existing staff members Scott Murrell and Rob Nickolay.
A long-serving assistant at Huddersfield, Robinson stepped into their top role in July 2024, initially on an interim basis, but left the club in March after losing the opening five league matches of this season.
Tigers owner Martin Jepson revealed Robinson’s appointment in a statement to supporters, which also apologised for the limited information given surrounding Carr’s absence.
Chester has admitted that he has contributed to the issues faced by the Tigers, saying: “It’s difficult on everybody.
“I’m responsible for a lot of things that have gone on this year with recruitment.
“I’m the first to hold my hands up that I haven’t got that right. I’m really passionate about this club and trying to get this club back to where it belongs and deserves to be.
“I share the fans’ frustration – I really do. I share their disappointment.
“We knew when we appointed Ryan Carr that it would be a two-to-three-year project. We knew we needed to continue to make changes both on and off the field and we have done that slowly but surely.
“I want to thank the fans for what they have been through this year.”
Chester does, however, believe the future is still rosy for the Tigers.
“I just know the quality we’ve brought into the club and I know what a great job Martin (Jepson) and the rest of the board are doing,” he added.
“Everyone is hands-on-deck at the moment. I know we’re doing really good things off the field, and we need to start doing good things on the field.
“I’m more confident that 2027 will be different than 2026.”