STEVE DEAKIN heads for the Australian sun this weekend as he starts his new job with London Broncos - and he left with a clear message for Cougar fans.

"Tell them they are absolutely fantastic, I have loved every minute of my time at Keighley," he told KN Sport.

Deakin had hoped to say his final farewells during Boxing Day's match against Gateshead Thunder, but the frost-hardened pitch robbed of the chance.

"I will be back to meet everyone personally as soon as I return from Australia, but I want the fans and sponsors in Keighley to know just how much they mean to me.

"The decision to leave was a painful one, but it was one I had to take.

"Whenever you get the chance to progress in your life or career you should take it and this was an opportunity to join a Super League outfit and work with some of the top players in the country.

"It also gives me a chance to return to full-time coaching.

"It simply was an offer I could not refuse," he said.

Deakin got the call from Brisbane Broncos on Tuesday, December 28, and within 24 hours had made his decision to take up the new post.

He had signed and returned a new contract and told Cougar chairman Neil Spencer of his decision to accept the challenge.

"It came completely out of the blue for us, but we wish Steve well for the future - he has been a tremendous servant for the Cougars in a comparatively short space of time."

Deaking joined Keighley in September 1999, and was initially assistant coach to Karl Harrison.

When Harrison left to take up an assistant coaching role at Bradford Bulls his deputy was asked to take over the Cougar Park hot seat.

Within weeks he showed that the club was not getting a 'second best' coach and went on to coach some of the most impressive teams seen at Cougar Park in recent years.

In the early part of the 2000-01 season he had put together a squad which looked set to romp away with the Northern Ford Premiership title.

For months the club dominate the league with Martin Wood striding clear at the top of the division's points scoring table.

Everything came together with came together on March 25, 2001, when Cougars travelled to Widnes and produced the best performance under Deakin's coaching.

In a classic encounter they beat Widnes, who were subsequently promoted to Super League, 22-19.

"It was also a water-shed," Deakin said. "That was also the game in which we lost Martin Wood and Darren Carter for the season."

Although the injury blow to Wood was to echo down the season there were more impressive moments to come.

"The fact that both teams made the play-offs despite everything that was happening off the field was tremendous. The A team had a brilliant season, and that fact that we were still the third best supported team the competition was an outstanding effort by the people of Keighley," Deakin said.

He added that some of his proudest moments had come after the break-up of the 'Super Team' he had built up at the start of the campaign.

"The way people really rallied round when we were fielding 13 or 14 amateurs was something else. People show their real character in adversity and the Keighley supporters were brilliant at that time."

If the supporters had shown their commitment to the coach who had become a personal friend to many, he also showed a remarkable commitment to the Keighley club.

When the financial crisis took a grip he offered take a pay cut and go part-time to ease the financial burden. Despite losing money in the final crash the old club he returned to build his third team under Cougars 2001 Ltd.

"It is difficult to pick out a few moments as highlights of my time with the club. The entire time I have been there has been outstanding," he said.