DANNY Lawton is thought to be lining up a move away from Cougar Park to get more game time.

The centre found his opportunities limited at Keighley this season and had a spell on loan at Hemel Stags.

Lawton is understood to have been offered terms for a permanent move to the League One club, though a deal has yet to be confirmed.

Cougars coach Craig Lingard said: "Danny wants to play week in, week out.

"We've had conversations and Danny understands that I can’t guarantee him the game time that he is wanting.

"I understand that at the age Danny is at, he needs to be getting as much guaranteed game time as you can get in rugby league. He is going to get that at Hemel but I can’t give him that."

Lingard accepts fans will be sad to see Lawton depart, the 27-year-old having been at Cougar Park since 2010 after joining from Leeds Rhinos Academy.

A regular points scorer with both his hands and feet, Lawton was a key figure in the 2011 Championship One promotion squad under Jason Demetriou and made the division’s team of the season.

But he has struggled to find a regular spot in Lingard's new squad this year. The Cougars chief said: "If he does leave it will be with our best wishes.

"I know its going to be a disappointment for fans down at Keighley because he is really well liked down there and is a popular figure but unfortunately I can’t pick teams on popularity.

"I’ve got to be ruthless now and pick people who we believe can take Keighley Cougars to the next level."

Meanwhile, Lingard is backing bogey side Barrow to beat Whitehaven in Sunday's League One play-off final.

The sides will play each other at The Recre after Raiders thrashed Newcastle Thunder 60-0 in last week's semi-final while Haven overcame York City Knights 21-20 in world record-length golden-point extra-time.

Having lost five times to Barrow this season, the Cougars chief is not surprisingly tipping them to join champions Toronto in the second tier next year.

He said: "They’ve been the more consistent team throughout the season.

"They had a difficult period in the mid to late part when they played Toronto and Leeds away and that impacted on their consistency but they seem to have come out of the other side of that.

"We’ve had a good look at them this year, having played them five times and losing every single time. Outside of Toronto they have been the best team in the division and I think they deserve to go up."

* Cougars' presentation night is being held on Friday, October 13 at Cougar Park.

The club is providing a three-course meal in the executive suite priced at £20 per person with the Hall of Fame bar open at 8:30pm for supporters not wishing to dine.

The night will be hosted by matchday host Phil Robinson and head of operations Joshua Chapman, with entertainment from 10:30pm following the presenting of awards at 9:30pm.

Visit the club website for more information or to book for the meal.