LEIGH RMI have been given a body-blow just a month before the start of the season with the loss of versatile defender Neil Fitzhenry.

The talented student is off to Newcastle University which is too far away to commit himself to RMI. Bury defender Nicky Hill is seen as a possible replacement if he can impress in a trial period with RMI following an arm operation.

"It is very disappointing," admitted boss Mark Patterson.

"It is a big blow as he is versatile defender who can play in three positions. I have lost a very good member of the squad."

Patterson sees

The manager says he still needs three players -- an experienced midfielder and two strikers.

One of those could be Neil Robinson from Macclesfield. The Leigh boss says he will be talking to his opposite number at Macclesfield this week with a view to taking the striker on loan.

Robinson could be on show on Thursday in RMI's first warm-up game of the season at Bamber Bridge. Their weekend trip to play in the Isle of Man has been called off.

Patterson was delighted his struggling club was given coverage on Sky TV at the weekend when the players went out and about to meet the public.

The manager is desperately trying his best to raise awareness of the Conference in the town -- famed more for its rugby than football team.

"People are getting to know us and the coverage on television helped," said Patterson. "We are picking up momentum and we hope that it will culminate ina big crowd at the Hilton Park fun day a week on Saturday."