THE new owners of Keighley Cougars have confirmed the club will not be selling season tickets to supporters for this season.

The consortium, led by former chairman Mick O'Neill, says due to the club reducing ticket prices for both adult and child matchday tickets for the 2019 Betfred League One season, which kicks off at Whitehaven on Sunday, it is not financially viable to sell season tickets this term.

Cougars fans who bought 2019 season tickets under the previous ownership, Austria Holdings, will have these deals honoured by the new bosses.

A club statement, released on social media tonight, said: "Keighley Cougars can this evening confirm that we will not be issuing season tickets for the 2019 season.

"With admission to home games set at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, this means there is already a 33 per cent reduction in prices.

"Following the late takeover of the club in January, the club felt it would not be financially viable to issue season tickets for ground access.

"The club will announce a date for tickets to be purchased for Block C in the Danny Jones Stand in due course as we understand that holders of seats in this area would like to retain these seats.

"The club will still honour life membership on the condition that life members can make contact with the club to discuss their agreements and provide evidence of their life membership agreements.

"The club will also honour season tickets purchased under the previous ownership, these people have been contacted by the club."

Cougars fans were given their first taste of the new era last Sunday when they lost to Leeds Rhinos in the inaugural Derek Hallas Trophy match.

But Cougar Park will host its first League One clash of the new campaign on Sunday, March 3, with the visit of Coventry Bears.

Meanwhile, Steve Race, of Wakefield, will officiate Sunday's Betfred League One opener at Whitehaven, where Cougars start on -12 points due to its change of ownership during the club's crisis-hit pre-season.