Promoted Cougars have already begun their squad strengthening for next season with three new signings.

Heading for Cougar Park next season will be Richard Jones, a second row forward from Castleford Tigers; Sam Crowther, a prop forward from Huddersfield Giants; and Craig Moss, a utility back from Hunslet Hawks.

The trio were targeted by coach Barry Eaton in the run up to the Co-operative One Championship Grand Final as players he would want if the Cougars won.

Now he has captured those players as Eaton looks to create a squad capable of surviving at the higher level.

He said: “The three players will be excellent additions to the Keighley squad and I believe that they will fit in well to the way in which we approach the game.”

Jones is a former Rugby Union player who has been on the books at The Jungle for the last 18 months. He is slightly over the age limit for the new engage Super League under-20 reserve grade and that is why he has been released by the Tigers.

Eaton said: “Richard comes highly recommended. I’ve seen him play a number of times and I’ve had conversations about him with their coaching team Terry Matterson, Richard Pell and Steve Gill.

“They said that he came close to being retained at the Jungle but now we’ve been able to give him an opportunity. “Richard is 6ft 3in tall and will add something to our back-row strength.”

Sam Crowther is also a victim of the switch to under-20 reserve-team rugby and has been released by Huddersfield Giants.

Eaton said: “Sam’s proved that he can hack it in the Champion-ship because he had a loan spell with Gateshead Giants this year.

“He played six or seven matches for them and he’s very comfortable at this level.”

Craig Moss is a former Featherstone Rovers player and he can cover several positions in the back division.

Eaton said: “Craig’s missed some of last season through injury but he’s fit again. His arrival at Cougar Park will give me more options in the three-quarters next season.”

Eaton has also been having on-going discussions with existing members of the Cougar squad.

He said: “I’ve been having very productive talks with both Greg Nicholson and Ryan Benjafield and I think we’re close to agreement with them for 2010.

“Dan Potter is currently away on holiday and I hope to speak to him next week”.

Prop Craig Brown who picked up three major injuries during the season is expected to remain with the Cougars.

Said Eaton: “It’s been a terrible season for Craig and I believe that if he can get a reasonable run without injuries that he is the kind of player that can force his way into our starting line-up.”

Eaton has also been negotiating with Carl Hughes’ agent to keep the former Featherstone Rovers loose forward at Cougar Park for 2010.

Eaton explained: “Carl’s away on holiday in America at the moment and I hope to talk to him when he gets back next week. That should just be a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

But one player who will not be at Cougar Park next season will be winger Lee Mapals because he has been released by the club.

Eaton said: “There’s no doubt that Lee is a very talented player but he often has great difficulty in making training because of his personal situation and given the extra demands of playing in the Championship I don’t think that we can allow that situation to continue”.