The Cougars will start on -9 points after a decision came from the Rugby League regarding their entrance into administration. A similar fate befell Widnes Vikings in 2008 while Rochdale Hornets also started on minus points last term in Championship One and during the course of the year Doncaster also saw points docked.
The previous Cougars company - Keighley Cougars (2001) Ltd hit trouble and a new company was formed.
A brief statement released by the RFL read:
The RFL have confirmed that Keighley Cougars will start their Co-operative Championship season on minus nine points as a result of going into administration in December 2009.
The decision was taken after the RFL Board agreed to admit Keighley Cougars (2010) Limited as a member of the RFL.
Keighley will start their league campaign next Sunday with an away fixture against Widnes Vikings.
At last week's Co-operative League Launch, Dave Parkinson caught up with Cougars Australian prop Brendan Rawlins.
"It was always going to be a hard battle and we know we will start on minus points but I think we will do quite well." The forward said. "We are nice and fit this year and have been training hard in the off-season so anything can happen."
"We've gone well against Whitehaven and Workington."
"The base of our team this year is similar to our Grand Final team lst year. There's only been a few other lads brought in."
The Cougars are a team in form. Taking into account last seasons form, Keighley have won their last nine games, although they face the prospect of meeting Barrow in a future midweek game after the last round of Northern Rail Cup fixtures was decimated by snowfall across Northern England.
"Sadly I only came back from Australia for the second half of the year but hopefully we can follow that on. I had to spend six months back home sorting visas out but hopefully I can play more this year. I had to go back to Australia to apply for a work visa again and it was just a long process."
It will be a testing league opener for the Cougars on Sunday when they take on Widnes Vikings.
I'll have a report of that game online.
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