COUGARS supremo Gary Fawcett believes new head coach Craig Lingard is building a side that will get supporters off their seats next season.

Lingard has presided over a major overhaul since being appointed as Paul March’s successor last month, bringing in around a dozen new players to encourage hopes of a successful 2017 campaign.

March departed Keighley at the end of the season just ended because he failed to deliver the club’s much-publicised goal of winning promotion.

Lingard, who has penned a two-year deal, will be given time to fashion a serious assault on reaching the second tier and there will be no rash statements from the club’s hierarchy this time around.

Nevertheless, Fawcett admits he cannot fail to be enthused by the quality of players that Lingard has managed to capture.

Moreover, he feels the style of play will whet the appetite of supporters and convince many lapsed fans to return to Cougar Park to watch the revolution unfold.

The Cougars chairman said: “After the appointment of Craig Lingard as our head coach, we've been working over the past four or five weeks to get the new rugby management team and the first-team squad together.

“Whereas I don't want to build expectations like I did last year, and although the first-team squad isn't quite complete, I believe that the individuals we have signed reinforce our earlier statement.

“We are looking to build an exciting team that can develop with us.

“As a result, we have retained the likes of Andy Gabriel and Josh Lynam and attracted players from a variety of clubs including Doncaster, Newcastle, All Golds and Dewsbury.

“We've signed exciting young players such as Matty Beharell and Nathan Conroy from Championship clubs in key positions and we also have our core of experience in the likes of Buster (James Feather), Brendon Rawlins and Ritchie Hawkyard.

“We want to play fast, open attacking rugby but this comes with the requirement to be prepared to defend aggressively and decisively.

“Our team will need to be focused, very fit and up for the challenge.”

Although key centres Charlie Martin and Hamish Barnes have joined Doncaster and Dewsbury respectively, and stalwarts Paul White, Ash Lindsay and Paul Handforth have retired, Lingard’s squad for 2017 appears strong.

The number of signings he has made runs into double figures and Fawcett revealed: “We are targeting a few more players, including a centre, that will align with this philosophy of playing fast, attacking rugby.

“I want our fans to be excited before the match and buzzing with excitement after the match.

“With our new season ticket strategy, coupled with the golden tickets, we are sincerely wanting people to come try us out next season and then become loyal fans.

“With an exciting product on the pitch it can only serve to entice people to want to come down to Cougar Park.”

Cougars last week confirmed the appointment of former Bradford player Nathan Graham as his assistant while Rikki Sheriffe will serve as player and a development coach for the club’s younger players.

Graham, who was full back for the Bulls in their 1996 Challenge Cup final defeat to St Helens and also helped them win Super League in 1997, replaces Adam Mitchell in the number two role after he left to join Championship outfit Dewsbury Rams as strength and conditioning coach.

Graham was a team-mate of Lingard at Batley Bulldogs towards the back end of a career which also saw two spells at Dewsbury Rams, plus stints with Featherstone Rovers and York City Knights.

He also featured for Scotland in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Graham's coaching experience has seen him spend five years as head coach of amateur outfit Drighlington.

Fawcett said: “Off the field Craig has been busy putting his management team in place with Nathan Graham being appointed assistant coach and Rikki Sheriffe and Buster being developed into coaching roles over the next season or two.

“Whereas we believe in bringing in new talent, we also believe in nurturing our own.

“We are looking for our experienced players to provide impetus behind our academy and reserve team structures which we will be turning our attention to in November once the first team has been finalised and begins their pre-season.”

Meanwhile, winger Callum Dunne is joining the club on trial following his departure from Championship outfit Halifax.

Dunne made a number of appearances for the reserves during the 2015 season.