New Cougars coach Jason Demetriou insists he will not necessarily be ringing the changes after taking over from Barry Eaton.

The former Wakefield skipper will continue to turn out on the pitch himself, as well as taking charge of the team.

And the 34-year-old Aussie says he wants to give the existing squad a chance to prove themselves before looking elsewhere.

Prior to the coaching change, the Cougars had been chasing a new half-back as the final piece in the jigsaw, with approaches made to both Neil Roden and Tom Hemingway.

But Demetriou is keen to give his current charges a chance to impress and recruitment will not be an immediate priority.

“I don’t really want to be thinking too much about adding to the squad yet because I don’t think that’s fair on the players here,” he said.

“I haven’t even really seen a lot of them play, so I want to give them first crack.

“I’m giving them the opportunity but if a player does become available in the half-backs, it’s something I’ll look at.

“I’ve got some good young half-backs here as well and I have to come up with a way of playing that suits those young blokes and works to their strengths as well.”

Even without any further additions to the squad, Keighley are sure to be installed among the favourites for promotion from a competitive Championship One, although Demetriou has shied away from making bold statements of intent.

“We’re just focused on the next four weeks and getting off to a good start in the Northern Rail Cup, then we’ll take it from there,” he said.

“There’s obviously a goal at the end but there’s processes to achieve that goal and if you focus too much on the end product and not the processes it takes to get there, often you won’t achieve what you want.

“This year Championship One has strengthened a lot. You’re not guaranteed to get promoted, you have to work hard and earn that right.”

Demetriou will take part in a ‘meet the fans’ session in the Hall of Fame bar after Sunday’s friendly against Rochdale (3pm).

It will be a great opportunity for fans to ask questions about plans to take the club forward over the next few years.