LEIGH'S three years of financial uncertainty is over.

On Friday the Hilton Park club finally came out of administration.

Now Leigh are in control of their own destiny with the formation of a new six-man Board of Directors and the start of major ground improvements.

"This is the day a lot of people have worked hard to achieve," declared relieved chairman Mick Higgins. "It's been a long, hard struggle, but at last we are in control of our own future."

The Leigh club has been in the hands of administrators for over three years; several times in that period they have been close to extinction.

Now the future is considerably brighter with the club looking ahead to moving forward and strengthening their partnership with Leigh RMI.

A new organisation - Leigh at Hilton Park - has been set up to oversee all aspects of rugby and soccer at the sporting HQ.

Forming the new board are Higgins (chairman), Chris Healy (chairman RMI), Alan Leach (vice-chairman RMI), Steve Blakeley (Leigh RL), John Massey (Leigh RL) and Simon Haworth (Leigh RL). Discussions are also taking place with other interested possible new members, including a local solicitor.

The move will trigger the release of a sizeable brewery loan and a Sports Ground Initiative grant so stadium improvement work can begin within a month.

One of the first moves will be to replace the entire floodlighting system with ones similar to those at Gigg Lane.

Other urgent work includes a new PA system, re-cladding and decking of the Supporters Stand, repainting of steelwork, new disabled toilet facilities and the doubling in size of the Mick Martyn Bar.

Major work will also start on the re-location of the changing rooms, physio room and boardroom to the Supporters Stand side of the ground.

Once Phase One of the operation is completed Leigh will seek further grants to demolish the out-dated main stand and re-erect in its place the modern stand the club has acquired from Robin Park at Wigan.

"This is a tremendous day in the history of the club and one which should herald the dawn of a new era," adds Higgins.

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