HEAD coach Craig Lingard has welcomed the return of Paul Royston to Cougars as head of strength and conditioning.

The new Keighley boss believes fitness levels will be crucial next season in what promises to be a tight Championship One competition.

And Lingard is delighted that Royston has resumed the position he has held before at the club, following the departure of Adam Mitchell to Dewsbury Rams.

Lingard said: "Strength and conditioning is an area of massive importance as a lot of teams are really evenly matched in our league. We need to get the edge in fitness to give us more chance of winning games.

"Paul knows what he is doing. He has been around the game for a few years and has plenty of knowledge and experience. "He’s a good man to have on board – not just on the strength and conditioning side but also someone to chat to about the game."

Alongside assistant Toby Williams, Royston has been putting the first team through their paces following their return to training, with a number of vigorous gym and rower sessions.

He has been impressed by the efforts of the new signings and the level of professionalism shown by the squad and coaching staff since his return.

Royston makes his Workouts gyms in Keighley and Shipley available free of charge to first-team squad members, with club captains James Feather and Brendon Rawlins among a number of players keeping fit there during the off-season.

Lingard is also pleased at how pre-season training has gone so far.

The former Batley assistant coach said: "We've gone back to basics as I didn’t know where the lads were in terms of skill levels.

"They have been great and bought into everything, shown real enthusiasm and good communication.

"I've had four or five weeks to plan things and the experience in the backroom has made it easier, though there will be learning curves along the way."

Lingard is pleased with the way the new players have integrated, with Nathan Graham helping the process.

The Cougars chief said of his assistant, who played in the 1996 Challenge Cup final for Bradford Bulls: "He has

experience of playing at a high level and his coaching experience includes spells at Drighlington and at Bradford Bulls scholarship level.

"He knows a lot of the lads down at the club, with there being five or six ex-Bradford scholars, and that has helped with their transition."