CRAIG Lingard issued a reality check and rallying cry to Keighley Cougars fans after he returned to the club after their players were paid.

He came back as head coach this week, while Steve Gill returns as general manager after Keighley players, both past and present, were paid after claiming they were owed wages going back to August.

The vast majority of Cougars' 2018 squad have left - including fans' favourites Ritchie Hawkyard, Scott Law and Harry Aaronson - following its wages row.

Lingard now has two months to get a squad together for Cougars' Betfred League One opener at Whitehaven on Sunday, February 17.

He said: "I could have quite easily not come back, but it's about putting the players on the park and putting a team out for the spectators. It's not about me, it's about the club as a whole.

"I have come back to give it a go. It was a really difficult decision for me because I said I would not come back and I am a man of my word.

"I am confident I can turn the club around. The alternative is no Keighley Cougars, I don't want that to happen. I want to get the club back on the map. We will have to build the squad from the foundations up.

"Sixteen players have agreed to start with us. Three or four are interested, so I am hoping to get to the 20-player mark for the squad.

"There is still an issue with the RFL with us being in special measures, which they are working on, so we can't sign anybody at the moment.

"We started pre-season training on Tuesday night. We are already down by 12 to 14 training sessions from where we should have been. We are four weeks behind other teams in our preparation.

"We have lost half of pre-season already. We have lost a lot of players due to what has happened.

"It is very, very difficult to come back. But we have got to cope with what we have got."

But the returning head coach had sobering words for fans ahead of the forthcoming campaign. He also understands fans who may not be able to forgive the club's majority shareholders, Austria Holdings, but said it's time for everyone to stick together and move on.

Lingard added: "Realistically, they have got to expect a tough season.

"I'm not bothered about me. Players and coaches will come and go, but the fans will support the team over the long term.

"There is still a lot of ill feeling around the staff and fans. I want fans to look at supporting the team rather than the ownership of the club.

"Some people will never forgive the owners for putting the club in this position. Austria Holdings are still the owners, we can't change that at the moment. People will be annoyed and hold a grudge."

A spokesman for the sport's governing body, the Rugby Football League (RFL), confirmed Cougars remain in special measures and unable to officially sign any players, but, in the meantime, can take players on trial.