Keighley handed nine point deduction

Newly promoted Keighley will begin their new Championship campaign with a nine point deduction for entering administration.

After winning the Championship 1 Grand Final in October, the Cougars suffered a turbulent winter, entering administration in December 2009 which carries the nine point penalty which has previously been handed out to clubs such as Doncaster and Widnes.

With the bottom two relegated from the Championship, and French side Toulouse exempt from relegation, it makes the Cougars odds of staying up in their debut season even tougher.

They start their campaign with an away fixture against Widnes on Sunday.