Another week, another NFP team in trouble. Just where will it all end?

First it was York, then Hunslet, Doncaster and now Keighley Cougars.

Owner Hami Patel, who has ploughed over £700,000 into the Cougars since he saved the club three years, has finally declared: "Enough is enough - I need to make some money."

He has indicated he will no longer provide any cash handouts, leaving the club in a desperate financial state.

Their game against Oldham was under threat last week after several players refused to play, claiming they had not been paid.

Former director Mike Smith, now back at Cougar Park, said: "I've come back from Spain and worked day and night to resolve this problem. The first letter I opened was a demand for £50,000 from the brewery and it would seem that professional managers who were paid lot of money, have left the place in a mess."

How many more times will we hear these same kind of statements emerge from NFP clubs?

Hunslet are still clinging onto life by a thread, as was made clear in their match programme against the Wasps last month.

Appealing for donations and sponsorship, chairman Graham Liles said: "The unpalatable truth is that the future of professional rugby league in South Leeds is on the brink of extinction...The current demands on limited financial resources not only jeopardise the future of this great club but could sound the death knell."

They were forced to withdraw from the Alliance League this season because they couldn't afford to run a team, only to be fined £12,000 for their troubles.

This is the same club who just two years ago were refused promotion to Super League after winning the NFP.

The Keighley crisis prompted the Association of Premiership Clubs to invite RFL chairman Sir Rodney Walker to their meeting yesterday to try to come up with a way forward for the stricken NFP.

The league's future could now depend on the outcome of that meeting, but the simple fact remains - without attracting more fans and sponsorship can there ever be a way forward?

Foot and mouth may be rife in the pig population but there's no stopping the pink porkies making an appearance on Monday to raise money for Alan Pallister's testimonial.

An afternoon of pig racing is taking place at South Bank Social Club, starting at 2pm, but don't worry - there's no risk of infection from these cuddly creatures.

They're all battery operated and will be raced down lanes about the length of a snooker table. There will be eight races on which punters can bet.

It should be a fun afternoon and it's all in aid of a very good cause - thanking the Wasps' longest serving player for all his efforts over the last ten years. Admission is free.

Wasps fans are being asked to consider possibly the most difficult question of the year so far - who to vote for as York's player of the season.

The Supporters' Club are not yet sure when they will be presenting the trophy so are urging fans to start thinking now about their nomination.

The large number of departures during the season has made it a difficult choice, as only players currently at the club can be selected.

And with many of the current bunch still relative newcomers it is going to be a tough decision. Some names to consider from the 'old guard' are Craig Moore, Shaun Austerfield and Mick Hagan, while of the newer players Darren Crake, Andy Hutchinson and Lee Badauskas spring to mind. There's no immediate rush, but keep it in mind over the next few weeks.

Former GB great Shaun Edwards believes Yorkshire coach Lee Crooks should look no further than a York old boy for the forthcoming Roses clash.

"I believe there could be a surprise name in the Yorkshire side for the Roses clash," Edwards told Teamtalk.com.

"Steve Craven at Hull is a prop who really caught the eye last week and had a blinder against Bradford.

"If he continues to make such good progress then who knows?"

Both counties will name provisional 18-man squads on Monday, May 21 after which they will hold a couple of training sessions ahead of the June 5 showdown at Headingley.