Be patient is the message from local lad and new Cougar coach Gary Moorby as he takes the reins at the struggling NFP side.

Moorby, a former player with Keighley, was handed the arguably poisoned chalice of management last Wednesday and was obviously disappointed by the 60-0 rugby lesson handed out by the Sheffield Eagles.

His side are languishing at the wrong end of the table and are down to the bare bones - with the 17 players who turned out on Sunday the only ones available.

"Things are not great at the moment," said a positive but realistic Moorby.

"In fact things are pretty bad. There were a lot of negatives on Sunday, I am obviously disappointed with such a huge reverse but it does not mean we cannot turn things around by the end of the season.

"I hope the fans aren't expecting miracles, because they will not get them, but I am sure that we can sort things out here and reward their patience."

It has been a difficult season for Cougar fans so far, suffering the loss of coach Steve Deakin to London, a treatment room brimming with star players and the humiliation of conceding 225 points - 126 without reply in the last two games.

But the next two games will be crucial, with Featherstone Rovers visiting Cougar Park this weekend and then St Gaudens arriving from France for the Kellogs Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup the following week.

"These are two big games for us," said Moorby, who is to be assisted by another local lad, Paul Moses, who he played alongside at Keighley.

"If we can put in a decent performance against Featherstone at home this week, it will give us something to build on for the following week in the cup.

"Paul (Moses) has some contacts in France, and we have done our homework on the side. They will be no pushover but we will give it our best.

"If we can get something from these two games it will really kickstart our season. As long as the fans bear with us, they can expect reward."

The long-term future of the club is clearly part of Moorby's plans, with an under-17 side being set-up and the signing of a number of youngsters.

Forward Richard Moore has been picked up on a month's loan from Bradford Bulls, while Danny Ekis, 19, has been signed-up from Halifax Blue Sox, where Moorby was in charge of the under-21s.

"Richard had a good game on Sunday," said Moorby, who also played at St Helens and Leeds.

"A crunching tackle that pole-axed an opponent drew cheers from the crowd and was one of the few positives on the day. Danny is a hard-working prospect and it is players such as these we are hoping to secure to bolster our squad.

"We need to create competition for places, it puts a bit of pressure on the lads, and that is what we need."

Moorby hinted that there may be a couple of youngsters from Super League winging their way to the Cougars soon on loan.

"We have the nucleus of a good side here," he added.

"But with one or two additions to our squad, we can begin to make things happen here. And that would be good for everyone in Keighley."