A TAKEOVER bid at crisis-hit Keighley Cougars has been rejected.

A financial offer for the Cougar Park club from a consortium led by Mick O'Neill and Mike Smith was refused by Shane Spencer, of the club's majority shareholder Austria Holdings.

Cougars have been in turmoil for the past six months since the takeover by shell company Austria Holdings, with non payment of staff and players wages, and questions over whether the club will be able to fulfil the forthcoming season's fixtures.

The club remains in special measures instigated by the sport's governing body, the Rugby Football League, which embargoes the club from signing new players.

O’Neill said: "For us to offer them a brass penny was hard to do, but we did so in the hope this sorry mess could be put to bed, and the club could move on."

Spencer, of Austria Holdings, was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus.