By Ross Heppenstall

Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett insists the club “deserve to be promoted” as they bid to secure an immediate return to the Championship.

The Cougar Park outfit suffered a heartbreaking and controversial relegation last season after Batley and Doncaster were both reinstated the three points they were initially deducted for fielding ineligible dual registration.

Fawcett considered taking legal action against the RFL following the demotion which he estimated has cost the club over £250,000 this year.

Yet Paul March’s promotion-chasing squad, fuelled by a sense of injustice and a desire to honour the memory of team-mate Danny Jones following his passing in May, are on course to go straight back up.

They lie second in League 1 behind leaders Oldham and are virtually guaranteed to face the Roughyeds in a promotion shootout at Whitebank Stadium on September 20.

Victory over Scott Naylor’s men would secure an instant return to the Championship for Keighley, who will end their regular season campaign at home to lowly Hemel Stags on Sunday.

Cougars racked up their fifth straight win after winning 48-24 at the University of Gloucestershire All Golds – but Fawcett is already looking ahead to the Oldham showdown.

The Cougars chief said: “We achieved an expected win on Sunday against Gloucester All Golds and our team did well and what was asked of them.

“I was hoping for Swinton to defeat Oldham by a margin so that it would put some pressure on the Roughyeds in the final league game this weekend but that wasn't to be.

“Therefore, barring an almighty upset we will finish second in the league and will take on Oldham on September 20 in the Promotion Final.

“Both teams have beaten each other this season, quite easily at their respective home grounds, so it remains to be seen what happens on the day.

“When we went to Oldham last time we weren't at our best having been ravaged by injuries and Marchy having to pull out of the starting seventeen only 10 minutes before kick-off due to injury.

“This time we will have almost a full-strength squad to pick from, so Oldham will have a much sterner test from us.

“The team that can keep their composure and stick to their systems will win on the day. We deserve to be promoted – but we still have to earn it.”

Cougars are set to be boosted by the return of a number of players this weekend as they prepare for the Oldham clash.

Jesse Sherrife, Ash Lindsay, Adam Brook, Jode Sheriffe and Josh Lynam are in line to play against Hemel but player-coach March is set to remain sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Gavin Duffy, Daley Williams, Lewis Graham and Sean Kelly are all still missing through injury.

Meanwhile, Fawcett has paid tribute to Lizzie Jones following her recent stirring performance of Abide With Me before the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

And now, after support from the rugby league community, Lizzie Jones’ rendition has been released as a single and on Sunday night was sitting at number 33 in the iTunes charts.

In the wake of Danny Jones’ death a fund was set-up to support his wife and now eight-month old twins, Bobby and Phoebe, and its balance currently stands in excess of £230,000.

Fawcett is urging fans to attend the Cougars v Wales game at Cougar Park on October 25, which will raised further funds for the Danny Jones Fund.

Fawcett said: “It's great to see Lizzie's version of Abide With me released as a single and the fact that the fund is still on the rise with more to come.

“I’m sure our game against Wales on October 25 will contribute a substantial amount and I encourage everyone to buy a ticket from our website as soon as possible to keep the fundraising momentum going.”