CHARLIE Martin admits he has had “more clubs than Tiger Woods” but he is aiming to finally settle down at Cougar Park.

The former Castleford second-rower has joined Cougars for the 2016 campaign as one of several close-season recruits and he is raring to go.

Martin took two weeks off work to undertake a trial spell at Bradford last winter, playing against Leeds in Jamie Peacock’s testimonial at Headingley to encourage hopes of a permanent deal.

But he was subsequently sacked from his job at the City & Guilds in Wakefield and, to make matters worse, he was not offered a contract at Odsal.

Martin ended up joining Hunslet and fell out of favour with ex-Keighley coach Barry Eaton’s side before being reunited with Paul March at Cougar Park.

The 22-year-old played six times for Keighley under March during a spell on dual-reg from Castleford in 2013 and has known the Cougars boss since childhood.

Since leaving Castleford at the end of the 2013 season, Martin has played for Batley, Huddersfield RUFC and been on trial at Bradford before his spell at Hunslet last term.

Reflecting on his nomadic career, Martin said: “I’ve probably been around more clubs than Tigers Wood in the past couple of years.

“I want to get back to enjoying my rugby and Marchy has always looked after me since I was about 12.

“He used to help out at Thornhill Trojans, which is my old amateur club, so I’ve known him a long time.

“I used to watch him when he was at Wakefield with his brother, so it has been a case of where I would be happy playing my rugby.

“I’ve not played much in the past couple of years, and have been in and out, but you want to be playing as much as you can and enjoying yourself at the same time. That is ultimately what the game is all about.”

Having played in Super League for Castleford, Martin was dreaming of a return to the full-time ranks when he joined the Bulls on loan last year.

He featured off the bench against Leeds and waited patiently to discover whether a deal would be offered to him.

It never materialised but Martin enjoyed his brief spell with Jimmy Lowes’ side.

He explained: “It was a bit gutting and I don’t know quite know what it came it down to in the end.

“I took two weeks off work to go on trial after Christmas and ended up getting sacked as a result.

“The company I was working for turned round to me and said ‘you’re obviously more dedicated to your rugby than you are to your job’.

“I was still on probation at the time and they said ‘you’ve had two weeks off and we need people in the office’.

“At that time it was still up in the air whether I would be offered a deal by Bradford and I was running outside to answer my phone every two minutes.

“I could understand where they were coming from but my heart was in trying to go full-time in rugby again.

“It was disappointing it didn’t work out at Bradford because they’re a good club with a great set of lads and I learned an awful lot from Jimmy during my time there.”

Martin has dreams of returning to play in a full-time environment but his overriding priority is to help Cougars to promotion.

He added: “I’m quite a positive person when it comes to my rugby.

“I just want to play as well as I can and help Keighley get promoted back to the Championship.

“I’m working in Leeds now in a customer service job and they have been really good to me with my hours in terms of allowing me to get over to Keighley for training during the week. It’s steady away.”

Cougars began pre-season training last Tuesday and Martin said: “Everyone seemed to gel straight away, even though it was largely fitness testing.

“I went to a few Cougars games last season and the squad is staying largely the same with a number of very good players having been added.

“Personally, I’d like to nail down a place in the second row but I’m happy to play anywhere.

“I’m feeling a lot fitter and healthier than I was last year. I’m keen to impress.”