KEIGHLEY Cougars head coach Craig Lingard has conceded his side's chances of making the Betfred League One play-offs following a run of three successive defeats.

His injury-hit squad crashed to a 34-12 defeat at Workington Town on Sunday. This 10th loss of the campaign put Cougars in ninth place on 20 points and adrift of teams above them in the play-off picture.

Lingard's men now host Newcastle Thunder at Cougar Park tomorrow, a side who are just one place above them on the same points.

But the head coach has reflected on an eventful time at the club following financial troubles which lead to six players leaving and eventually a takeover by Austria Holdings.

Lingard said Cougars are now looking to get as many points as they can over the remainder of the season, before they re-group and recruit over winter for an improved assault on promotion next year.

He said: "It will be massively difficult for us to get to the play-offs now.

"We will now try to end the season by getting as many points as we possibly can.

"We have a small bunch of players busting a gut and rewarding the supporters who have stuck with us.

"Before the troubles at the club, we were fifth or sixth in the table. We were right in the mix. We then had six players who left the club and we have also suffered injuries.

"It's been a massive upheaval for the club.

"When I took over at the club, I said this would be a three-year project. We are back in a transitional period now.

"It is difficult enough for us to get a result when it is hard for us to get a team out that is fit and well.

"The new owners have come in and worked hard off the field to make te club sustainable and put in measures to re-connect with the local community.

"We will try and build a team for next year. We will try to galvanise the team for the rest of the season.

"It's been a massively difficult time for the club. But it is part and parcel of being a coach, to deal with everything thrown at you."