BLACKPOOL Panthers director of rugby Dave Rowland might not have done his club any favours, I fear, with comments he apparently made this week about the lack of support from the seaside town.

Rowland, in issuing a challenge to the townsfolk to get behind the struggling club, has been reported as saying that "people in Blackpool don't want to get off their backsides and support us," and describing the level of support from the Blackpool people and businesses overall as "pathetic".

Whether he is right or not, I would argue that such an antagonistic kind of talk is not likely to persuade any would-be supporter to go down, but rather turn people off.

Clubs need to give people and businesses a reason to get involved, and calling them "pathetic" if they choose not to is not likely to win friends in the local business community.

FORMER York players Gareth Dobson and Richard Goodard played in the Prison Service Rugby League's association's inaugural North v South game on Wednesday, at Farnborough. The match was part of a plan to expand the game in the Prison Service.

BOMBER has a new assistant. Steve Harris the kitman - aka Bomber - will now be backed up by former York Wasps stat man Rich Kirby.

BIT of useless trivia. The National League fixture programme is currently in the midst of its longest run of weekly rounds without a break.

The last interruption was for the Northern Rail Cup final on July 17 and the next will be for the Challenge Cup final on August 27, which totals five consecutive weekends with a game.

PICK-UP points and times for the Knights' Supporters Club coaches to Dewsbury tomorrow are:

Huntington Stadium (rear) 12.30pm, New Lane (opposite Anthea Drive) 12.35, Clarence Street (opposite vets) 12.45, Blossom Street (opposite Odeon) 12.55, Tadcaster Road (at Marriott) 1pm.

All bookings are via 07958 569266, stating name, membership number and number of seats wanted. Prices are adults £6 or £7, depending on numbers, over-60s, students and U16s £5, and accompanied U12s £1.

Updated: 09:01 Saturday, July 30, 2005