KEIGHLEY Cougars head coach Craig Lingard has resigned in protest at his coaching staff and players not getting paid overdue wages.

Lingard, 41, who was appointed in September 2016 and has himself not been paid by Cougars for the last five-and-a-half months, tendered his resignation on Saturday.

And he said his players and staff are owed money going back to August.

He said: "The players still have not been paid.

"I tended my resignation on Saturday and said I could not continue as long as the players were owed money.

"It has been one thing after another, there is always an excuse why the money has not gone in. It came to a point when I couldn't take it anymore.

"There is nobody there to run the team now.

"I would only consider coming back if the players are paid. But even then I would now find it difficult to come back."

More to follow.