JAMES Feather admits he cannot stop smiling following his dramatic return to Cougar Park – little more than a month after quitting his home-town club.

The long-serving Keighley favourite has been released from his contract with Hunslet Hawks, having agreed a compensation deal which he has paid himself after admitting he had made a huge mistake in wanting to leave Cougars.

He is now set to put pen to paper on a two-year deal this week with Paul March’s side to see out the rest of his playing days at the club before possibly moving into a coaching role with them.

The 30-year-old hooker said: “I’m made up it has been sorted and am walking around with a big smile on my face!

“It’s an unbelievable feeling and the start of pre-season training was excellent last week.

“I’d have been heartbroken to have started training with Cougars and then be told I couldn’t train with the boys in December while it dragged on.

“Now I know I can carry on training with the boys, it feels great.

“My plan is to concentrate solely on playing in the next two seasons and do as well as I can.

“The year after, if I’m still needed and in good shape then obviously I’ll look to keep playing but I’d definitely like to get into the coaching side of things.

“I’ve learnt a lot from the coaches at Cougars in my ten years at the club and watched video review sessions with them and seen how things work.

“After these next two years are up, that’s what I’ll start concentrating on. My desire is definitely to coach Keighley and always has been.”

Hunslet confirmed on Monday they had released Feather from his 12-month contract in return for Cougars hosting the Hawks in a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2016 campaign and an “undisclosed fee” from the player.

Hawks director of rugby Darren Williams said: “We have been having regular dialogue with the RFL, Keighley Cougars and James himself over his request to be released and thankfully we have agreed a compensation package with James himself paying an undisclosed fee to be granted his release.

“We have also agreed to play Keighley in a pre-season game ahead of 2016 which will also provide us with some financial recompense.

“It’s been a very disappointing saga in all honesty but at least all parties concerned can now move on from this and put this to bed.”

Feather has apologised to Hunslet and their coach Barry Eaton, who was once at the Cougars helm.

He said: “I feel like I’ve let him down and it will take a long time to rebuild the relationship but I never meant for anybody to get hurt, especially Barry as coach."

Feather added: "I also need to pay tribute to Paul March. He has been very good for me and been pursuing the case and trying to help me as much as he can without trying to get too involved.

“Obviously he didn’t want to get involved too much because it was my fault and a mistake I made.

“Paul has been on the phone to me and to Darren at Hunslet, so they have been good enough to let me go.”

With his future now settled, Feather is looking ahead with optimism and is confident Cougars can push for an immediate return to the Championship.

He said: “We have a core of players who have been together for a long time and that’s something other teams don’t have.

“Myself, Danny Jones, Brendon Rawlins, Scott Law and Ollie Pursglove – we have all played together for several years now.

“We’re all singing off the same hymn sheet and you can’t buy that. Potentially we’ve already got the upper hand on other teams because we know each other so well.”

Meanwhile, Cougars winger Gavin Duffy has been awarded a testimonial season from the RFL after ten years at the club.