KEIGHLEY coach Paul March will have his troops on red alert for Barrow’s visit tomorrow after watching his side crumble to a humiliating 84-6 defeat at Toulouse.

The Cougars’ boss pulled no punches following the 15-try rout in the south of France calling it “embarrassing and humiliating” and said his side were outplayed in every department, adding “that was totally unacceptable”.

It led to him apologizing to Keighley fans after the Toulouse torment, and said his players would give up their match fees to fund travel costs for another away trip for those who made the long journey.

March said in a statement to supporters: “I’d like to start with apologizing to all supporters and especially those who travelled to Toulouse at the weekend to see us turned over in that manner.

“I ensure you all that me and my staff will be working as hard as we to every week to rectify the weekend’s performance – no team I coach should ever give in and at the weekend that’s what happened and we were humiliated.

“I’ve spoken with the players after the game and they agree with me that their match money will go into a pot to fund the travelling supporters for another away trip.

“People have different opinions on myself and my players and that’s fine, but at the end of the day we all have the same goals and that’s promotion, so let’s all pull in the same direction as one.

“I’ll make sure we do the stuff on the field and you guys do your job on the sideline and be our 18th man.”

Cougars’ skipper James Feather also apologized to the supporters and has vowed to make amends, describing the hammering as the worst performance he had been involved in since he has been at the club.

Chairman Gary Fawcett said ahead of the Barrow visit: “I am looking for a significant reaction, we just weren’t good enough at Toulouse.

“Marchy has spoken to the players and they have been through a significant training regime over the week. I sincerely hope they will be up for it.

“It was just not very pleasant sat there and watching tries being run in and listening to the French singing and laughing about it.

“The boys have got to react and essentially if they just stick to the systems, which they didn’t do at Toulouse, it will be a good, exciting game.”

He added: “They will be coming down looking to take the two points so they can create that chance to get in the top four. One of the things that I will be saying to the players before the match is we can’t allow that to happen. We need to be in the top four.

“There is a lot to play for in this match.”

Keighley have moved swiftly to add to their side bringing in winger Jonny Campbell on a one-month loan from Bradford Bulls – a player who will offer competition for places in the backs – and who is expected to be pushing for a start against Paul Crarey’s outfit.

Campbell joined the Bulls last November but found chances hard to come by at the Provident Stadium since returning from a broken leg he collected at previous club Batley, making only three appearances to date, scoring his only try in the victory away at the Oldham Roughyeds.

His spell at the Cougars comes at a crucial time in the season with only three regular season games remaining heading into the Super Eights phase of the season.

Keighley sit fourth in the League One table, one point ahead of sixth-placed Raiders but they face a tough run-in with further matches against Rochdale and York.

Last season Keighley edged Barrow out twice in two thrillers, squeezing home 24-22 at Craven Park and 18-17 at Cougar Park. Referee Warren Turley will officiate Sunday’s game.