Whitehaven had expected to be hosting neighbours and main rivals Workington Town in the opening game of their 2019 season.

But in a change of heart at the RFL, instead it will be crisis club Keighley who visit the Recreation Ground while Oldham entertain Town.

Haven chairman Tommy Todd said: "To be honest, we are disappointed because that would have been a terrific start to the new season.

"We were told the RFL wanted to make a big bang at the start of the season with the opening fixtures. 

"They felt that, with the right sort of marketing, it could prove a big hit. 

"In the draft we had first, it was Whitehaven versus Town and the two Welsh clubs meeting, as well as a Yorkshire derby, Hunslet and Keighley. 

"We were certainly all for it. 

"But they appear to have had a change of heart, expressing the view that it’s too near Easter when these traditional derby fixtures are played.

"But Easter is nine weeks away.

"It just seems a bit of a let-down from what they were planning to start with."

Todd added: "It is what it is, however, and we just have to get on with it. 

"I sincerely hope that Keighley Cougars pull through their current problems and are able to compete in League One.

"We have them now as our first opponents and they are currently in poor shape with very few players and under special measures. 

"It has been suggested they might even fold before the end of the year. 

"It just emphasises the problems in rugby league at this level and how clubs have to contend with financial pressures."

One of the other angles on the fixtures that Todd and his fellow directors were looking at was how many clashes with Town’s home matches there will be. 

In fact there are two – Whitehaven v North Wales (June 23) and Town v Oldham on the same day; with Whitehaven v Coventry on the final day of the regular season (September 8) when Town will entertain Doncaster.

"I don’t think it needs to happen," Todd added.

"It certainly didn’t in the old days when Bill Fallowfield operated with two secretaries and a typewriter!"

Gary Charlton is in charge of Haven for the 2019 season.