Influential stand-off Martin Wood will be missing from Keighley Cougars new- look team next season.

Wood, who missed the second half of last season following a knee operation, is now fit again.

But coach Steve Deakin, who is working on a limited budget since the club was rescued from liquidation, said: "We can't afford him. We simply don't have the budget to attract Martin back to the club. We just can't do anything about it."

Wood was Cougars' main playmaker and goalkicker until he hurt his knee in the 22-19 win at Widnes at the end of March and didn't play again.

However, pacey winger Craig Horne and captain Jason Ramshaw are among crowd favourites who have agreed to play with the Cougars next season.

Other players who have agreed terms include Phil Stephenson, Karl Smith, David Best, Paul Ashton, Max Tomlinson, Stuart Calvert, Chris Hannah, Graeme Shaw and Oliver Wilkes - and Deakin is talking to other potential signings.

Deakin said: "Contract offers will be given to the players this week. It is just a question of getting the paper work together."

One signing target who won't be returning to Cougar Park is 30-year-old centre and winger Graeme Hallas, one of ten players who walked out on the club when they were forced to make cutbacks last April.

Hallas moved to Huddersfield Giants and has agreed to rejoin them for the new season.

Deakin, who has had talks with Hallas in the hope of attracting him back to Keighley said: "Graeme received a reasonable offer from Huddersfield.There are a lot of people out there on the market and we have just got to be patient and get the players that are right for us. We had 15 players training with us earlier in the week and two others gave us reason for their absence.

"We are going to talk to another couple of players this week and, in the next two to three weeks, we will have the basis of the team.

"We are at an advanced stage in discussions with several other players. It would be remiss of me to disclose names now, but in the next seven to ten days we hope will have a list of names."

Deakin is especially pleased that Ramshaw and Horne are re-signing.

He said: "Jason has great stature in the game at this level and within the town."

Horne missed the second half of last season with a hamstring injury caused by a hip imbalance.

Deacon said: "Craig was injured in the home match against Leigh, but he has now recovered and is in training. He is keen to get going again.

"He is one of the sharpest wingers in the Northern Ford Premiership with a great change of pace and direction. Mentally, he is also sharp and up for the game."

l Huddersfield Giants made the most significant capture for their Northern Ford Premiership campaign with the signing of goalkicking loose forward Steve McNamara.

The 29-year-old former Hull and Bradford Bulls player was a priority target of coach Tony Smith as he bids for an immediate return to Super League.