ANGRY Leigh reckon they have been fed to the rugby wolves.

And this week they revealed some of the evidence that their Division One prospects are being undermined by a massive shortfall in Murdoch cash.

Instead of receiving a handout of £390,000, in common with other First Division clubs, Leigh and Widnes got just £90,000 after being fast-tracked to promotion.

Leigh claim from Day One they were entering the competition with one hand tied behind their backs. Their predicament has become more evident over the past week or so as Hilton Park chairman Mick Higgins has tried to put together transfer deals to help bolster coach Keith Latham's squad.

"The extra £300,000 available to other First Division clubs is making a massive difference," he said.

"With that type of money available we would have been in a position to make investments in players at junior and senior level. That would have helped Keith to continue to make progress on the field."

Leigh's decision to highlight their transfer frustrations is aimed at putting Hilton Park fans in the picture.

"Everyone is aware the squad needs strengthening as a matter of urgency," he added. "But we won't pay out monies we feel are unreasonable.

"It all proves what sort of financial handicap we are expected to compete under."

In a break with tradition, Leigh have given details of some of the proposed transfer deals which have fallen down in recent times.

One Super League club was willing to loan out a top loose-forward - provided Leigh picked up the player's weekly pay cheque of £600.

Another former Super League player wanted a guaranteed contract of £12,000 for the year - with match payments on top.

A guaranteed contract of £10,000 on top of match fees was wanted by a second player with considerable Super League experience.

One player, formerly with Swinton and with no Super League experience, wanted a £10,000 signing-on fee - and a car.

After agreeing a loan deal with a Super League centre, the player's club changed tack and demanded a transfer fee well out of Leigh's reach.

"That's the sort of frustration we have been suffering," said Higgins. "It's not for the want of trying. We are not sitting back waiting for things to happen - we are trying to make them happen.

"We will continue to attempt to attract better quality players to Leigh. But other clubs know how desperate we are to recruit and jack up their asking price as a consequence."

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