Keighley Cougars have escaped attempts to have the club shut down but now look set to go into administration.

The club had winding-up proceedings adjourned for 49 days in a hearing at London’s High Court after applying to go into administration.

A hearing next Friday (December 18) will determine the success of their application.

Winding-up proceedings were brought against the club when they were unable to reach agreement with HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill.

Should the Cougars go into administration, it would almost certainly mean they start the new campaign in the Co-operative Championship with a points deduction.

Helen Carter general manager said:

"We are still exploring every avenue available to us but we need to take precautions to safeguard the future of the club."

Meanwhile, Cougars are hoping to be back to full strength for the start of the new season after two players went in for operations this week.

New signing Chris Baines and Ryan Benjafield both went under the knife as their team-mates continued with pre-season training.

Prop Benjafield had a successful clean out on his knee, which will leave him sidelined for two to three weeks, while Baines underwent a hernia operation on an existing problem.

The arrival from Oldham had been hoping to shake off a groin injury picked up late last season but a visit to the specialist confirmed he needed an operation, keeping him out of action until late January.

Head coach Barry Eaton said: “Ryan Benjafield had a clean out on his knee and everything went well. It was just a little bit of a niggle so he needed some cartilage removed.

“We were aware when Chris signed for us that he was carrying an injury but we thought it might just be a strain.

“The specialist decided he needed an operation. Normally we might have waited but we just felt we didn’t want to get to the start of the season and have him miss games if it flared up.”