JOHN KEAR has handed Craig Lingard a huge ringing endorsement, insisting his former protégé is the “perfect fit” as Cougars’ new head coach.

Lingard was appointed at Keighley on a two-year contract last month following the departure of Paul March.

As Kear’s assistant coach, Lingard was instrumental in helping Batley to finish third in the Championship this year.

That feat earned Kear the Championship Coach of the Year award but the former England boss acknowledged the input of Lingard into the club’s fairytale season.

Lingard enjoyed a successful playing career at Mount Pleasant and working under Kear since 2012 at the Bulldogs served as an outstanding apprenticeship.

Wales boss Kear, who has now left Batley and will return to Wakefield as director of rugby next season, said: “Craig was more than happy to join the coaching staff at Batley, where he was held in very high regard because of the playing career he enjoyed there.

“When he joined the staff, he will admit that he had plenty to learn.

“But he was undertaking his Level Three coaching qualification at the time and I think he really saw it as an apprenticeship.

“He certainly blossomed and during the past year or so I realised he was looking for a head coach's job.

“He applied for the Batley job and he wasn't far off getting it.

“But I didn't think that was the right one for him because I think he needs to go away from that club and experience a different environment.”

It is understood that Hull KR assistant coach Willie Poching and ex-Keighley player and coach Matt Bramald were both interviewed for the Cougars job.

But Lingard was named as the successor to March who, after four years at Lawkholme Lane, did not have his contract renewed following the club’s failure to win promotion back into the Championship.

Kear has a soft spot for Cougars and took his Wales team to play Keighley at Cougar Park in a benefit match for the late Danny Jones 12 months ago.

Kear added: “Craig spoke to me about Keighley and I've always liked the Cougars, ever since Phil Larder was there.

“People in the game speak highly about Keighley and I just think it's a great club who are in a tough position at the minute.

“The other thing that makes it a good appointment is the fact that Craig is going to exert a positive influence on the place and will improve it. I just think it's a perfect fit for club and coach.”

Kear is rated as one the best coaches in British rugby league after a remarkable career which saw him guide Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC to Challenge Cup final glory in 1998 and 2005 respectively.

But he feels Lingard has all the qualities required to stamp his mark on Cougar Park.

Lingard last week made Emmerson Whittel his eighth signing for the 2017 season on the back of bringing in half-back Matty Beharall from Swinton Lions.

Kear said: “I think first and foremost that Craig is a smart recruiter and he was always someone I spoke to when we were looking to sign somebody at Batley.

“One, he can spot a good player, which always helps.

“Two, he can work within financial constraints, which anyone who has worked at Batley has to do.

“Batley only spend within their means, and they have certainly had success in doing that and kept the club in rude health financially.

“Thirdly, he's very organised, driven and hard-working.

“When you've got all those attributes, the technical and tactical side of things come on the back of it.

“I just think the most important thing in coaching is man-management and I believe Craig will be very good at that.”

Second-row forward Whittel arrives at Cougar Park following two years with University of Gloucestershire All Golds in which he made 46 appearances for Lee Greenwood’s side, scoring five tries.

Before moving south, 21-year-old Whittel came through the Bradford Bulls Academy, making his one and only senior appearance for Bradford in the final round of the 2014 Super League season as the already-relegated Bulls recorded a 46-36 victory at London Broncos.

* Keighley are holding a question-and-answer session with new head coach Craig Lingard and chairman Gary Fawcett tomorrow night at Cougar Park (7.30pm).