DANNY Jones says the dual-registration farce which led to the Cougars' demise "beggars belief" but insists he had no hesitation staying loyal to the club following their relegation.

After three seasons in the Championship, Keighley are staring at the dismal prospect of life back in the third tier following their controversial demotion.

Paul March's team filled the fifth and final relegation spot after Batley were reinstated the three points they had been docked for breaching rules on dual registration.

The saga has led to threats of legal action from Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett, who estimates the club will lose around £250,000 in revenue from being in Championship One.

They have had to slash their playing budget accordingly and Jones is among a number of men who have taken a pay cut in order to stay – despite interest from several Championship clubs.

The Halifax-based full back or stand-off is in his second spell at the club, the first having ended when Keighley won promotion but were then relegated following a slide into administration.

"I had other options but there was only one in my mind and I wanted to stay," said Jones.

"A few people sounded me out but I always said that I would be staying at Keighley whatever happened.

"I'm happy at Keighley and I've always said I will stay where I'm happy.

"We've all pretty much had to take a pay cut but that was a given.

"The budget that was going to be knocking around in the Championship was far greater than what it is in Championship One and that was the big carrot-dangler to stay up.

"But it wasn't to be and, apart from the points deduction, we should have been safe a long time ago because we threw some games away.

"It's gone now, though, and there is no point being sour and grumpy."

Asked whether he felt Fawcett had a case against the RFL, the Wales international added: "Absolutely right he's got a case – and so have Sheffield Eagles. The rules are there in place and they should be abided by.

"If a player is ineligible in football, it's dealt with and they either get disqualified from the competition they're in or they get points deducted.

"It shouldn't even have arisen but it beggars belief and could only happen in our sport. I just feel while the RFL are at the helm, we are always going to struggle."

Jones is not expecting an easy ride in the third tier – if the Cougars' quest to be reinstated in the Championship fails – and said: "We are under no illusions it will be a tough year, so we need to set our stall out at the start of pre-season.

"The likes of Swinton, North Wales Crusaders and Barrow are going to give us tough games but the games we're expected to win – and win well – against the likes of Oxford, Hemel Stags and Coventry could be tough if we go into it with the wrong mentality.

"I would imagine it's tough at the moment for Marchy to bring players in because he's unsure what division we will be playing in."

Jones was sounded out over his availability by new Wales coach John Kear ahead of the forthcoming European Championships.

But he will not be taking any part as his wife is expecting twins and all his efforts are focused on their impending arrival in December.

The former Halifax man explained: "I had a call from John but my wife is pregnant and that was one of the reasons for not being able to join up with the squad.