Steve Deakin will become a part-time coach as Keighley Cougars continue their cost cutting exercise following the decision of owner Hami Patel to cut off his financial support worth £250,000 per year.

Deakin is being treated in the same way as his players who are being offered reduced contracts for the last two months of the season.

"My contract is being reduced from full to part-time," said Deakin. "It is not ideal, but what can I do? I am in exactly the same position as the players."

Deakin has guided Keighley to second place in the Northern Ford Premiership but he now expects his side to break up.

The coach is resigned to losing some of his most best players. They are expected to reject their new contracts and try to find other clubs.

He said: "I have no doubt that they are good enough to be offered employment within the game at other clubs.

"Whether it happens immediately I don't know. It is just a shame. If we had stuck together we would have been in a position to challenge seriously for the Grand Final.

"I think it is inevitable that the players will depart. I don't bear any grudges to them for that. It has been a pleasure to be involved with them both professionally and personally. It is a great shame because we were starting to promise so much.

"The first team are second and the second team are top of their league, but the squad is being broken up."

Deakin will have to field a severely depleted side at Oldham tomorrow after 11 of the side that beat Chorley last Sunday reported unfit.

Only Phil Stephenson, Jason Ramshaw, David Best, Gareth Hooson, Karl Smith and James Rushforth are available from the 17 on duty in that match.

Danny Seal has flu and Alan Boothroyd, Mick Slicker, Jimmy Leatham, Paul Harrison, Ian Dews, James Walker, Matthew Walker, Jason Lee, Graeme Hallas and Craig Murdock have reported injuries.

Also on the injured list are Nathan Antonik (ankle), Craig Horne (hamstring) and Martin Wood, who is recovering from a knee operation.

Deakin said: "We met for training last night and I can say that no contract has been broken on either side. I chose the team to play at Oldham and the injured players spoke up."

He will include Luke Sellars, James Simeonvich, Chris Wain-wright, Carlos Sanchez and Max Tomlinson, but won't be able to name his side until tomorrow.

He said: "We won't be a result orientated team. We will be a performance orientated team. If the players perform creditably and with enthusiasm we may well get a shock result. We have got to get through Sunday and then re-group."