Cougars’ new boss should be in place within a fortnight.

Interviews started on Tuesday and a total of 12 candidates are being considered for the role, with former Wakefield star Jason Demetriou among the high-profile names to have applied.

Championship-winning former Barrow coach Dave Clark is also in the mix, as are BARLA Great Britain boss John Fieldhouse and ex-Keighley and Bradford player Chris Parker, recently in charge at Ovenden ARLFC.

Matt Bramald remains a strong contender, having built up a good reputation as both player and coach at Cougar Park, and will stay in temporary charge alongside Glen Barraclough until an appointment is made.

But reports suggesting Super League legend Stanley Gene had applied for the role are wide of the mark and the Papua New Guinean has not expressed an interest in entering the running.

“We want to make a decision by the end of the first week of January,” said Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett.

“Considering we didn’t advertise the position, we’re surprised how many applications we received.

“From our perspective, what we’re looking to do is employ someone who can take us to the top of the Championship, with the ultimate goal of getting to Super League in 2015.

“We want the best person for the job and there are lots of pros and cons with all the candidates.”

Meanwhile, Barry Eaton is hoping to bid a fond farewell to the Keighley fans at Tuesday’s pre-season clash with Dudley Hill before he departs to take up the role as assistant at Crusaders RL.

Eaton’s final game in charge was supposed to be last week’s Peter Fell Memorial but that match has been postponed until January 16 as a result of the recent cold weather.

Although he has already handed over control to Bramald and Barraclough, the departing boss decided the Dudley Hill clash would be an ideal time to say his final goodbyes.

“I was disappointed the Peter Fell game didn’t go ahead,” said Eaton.

“Although it’s early in the piece, the lads are eager to get a game under their belts and it had also been scheduled as my farewell.

“Hopefully the game against Dudley Hill will go ahead as planned. The long-term forecast is improving so we’re confident we’ll be able to play.”