COUGARS will kick off next season with two home games, if preliminary fixtures are accepted.

Clubs throughout the Northern Ford Premiership have been sent details of the planned fixture schedule which is still open to change, but if it is accepted the first game will be a home tie against Doncaster Dragons in the Buddies National Cup.

If everything goes to plan the second game will also be a home clash against an amateur club in the Challenge Cup.

The Cougars were also re-admitted as full members of the Rugby League this week which gives the right to vote on the game's ruling body. They will also get a share of any prize money awarded.

Following the collapse of the club with huge debts in 2001 the new Cougar club was allowed into the game as associate members, but they were not allowed a vote on the Rugby League Council. If the team had won any honours they would not have been able to collect any prizemoney.

After this week's vote to re-admit the club the game's chief executive, Richard Lewis, said: "It is always satisfying when a club is able to regain full membership status after emerging from a period of internal problems."

For chairman Neil Spencer the vote marked a watershed in the development of the club.

"It means we are now full members of the rugby league community again and everyone was very positive about the way the club is now moving forward.

"The Cougars came very close to going out of existence altogether, but with the help of my fellow director, Colin Farrar, and an lot of other people, the club is moving forward again.

"Last season was a period of survival and consolation. We have managed to keep the club in the black financially, and now we can start to move forward.

"The players are working hard on developing their fitness for the coming season and Gary Moorby has pre-season session to work with the players. We hope 2003 will be a season which will put a smile back on the faces of Cougar fans who have gone through a lot in recent years," he said.

Jason Ramshaw has also pledged his future to the club.

Following a serious shoulder injury which kept him out of the game for most of last season he played in his recent benefit game, and is confident he can return to the thick of the on-field action.

"I'm looking forward to the start of the season, but I am doing some youth work and have told Gary Moorby that I may not be able to make all the training sessions. He is happy to work round my job situation so I am ready to continue playing," Ramshaw said.

Off the field supporters have joined forces to carry out repair and maintenance work at the ground with teams cleaning and re-painting.

Organiser Julie Spencer said: "There is still plenty of work to do and we would welcome anyone who can spare an hour to help with the work.

"The volunteers don't need to be specialists, but we would particularly like to hear from anyone who could help render the outside of the gym or upholster seats in the bar."

Working parties meet at the club on Saturday mornings, and Julie can be contacted on 01535-213111.

n The club's new 'lottery' got underway last night with players and coach Gary Moorby rolling the "Cougar Dice" in the Hall of Fame bar.

"It is already proving to be very popular and we hope it will continue to grow.

"We will be taking the game on the road in the coming weeks and hope everyone will get involved in supporting the club," Julie Spencer said.