THE Hilton Park boardroom takeover battle is nearing a conclusion with Leigh Centurions likely to have new owners by the end of the week.

An eight-man consortium of local businessmen are close to tying up a deal which would see them take control of the cash-strapped Centurions.

Negotiations between the consortium and the Administrator have gone on for much of this week and it us understood that a verbal agreement has been reached.

The consortium has also got an assurance from the Rugby Football League Financial Director, Nigel Wood, that should their bid be successful they will be granted the licence to play in the National League Division One next season.

The appointed Administrator moved into Hilton Park on Monday and as a consequence four full-time members of staff have been relieved of their posts. These include chief executive Tommy Cunningham and marketing manager Mike Callaghan whose futures are now uncertain.

Locks have been changed on the administration offices but the club shop remains open and head coach Paul Terzis is still working from the ground.

First step

Should the consortium be successful in their takeover bid their first step is likely to be to place the Leigh at Hilton Park company into a Company Voluntary Agreement which will ring-fence reported debts of £500,000. A new company, Sporting Club Leigh Ltd, will take over responsibility for all players' contracts and the licence to play in National League One as they start to re-structure the club.

A CVA is a proposal by a company to settle its debts in a manner which will give a better return to creditors than any other form of insolvency and usually allows a company to stay in business. In order for a CVA to be implemented, the proposal must be approved by at least 75 per cent of creditors.

"We have made significant progress in the last few days," says consortium member Derek Beaumont.

"We have a verbal agreement with the Administrator and the RFL but until we have written confirmation, the situation remains basically unchanged. We have had to re-structure our bid slightly to satisfy both the Administrator and RFL. That has now been done and we are waiting for their written responses."

If everything goes according to the consortium's plan, the company expect to be out of the CVA before the end of the coming season.

Grand Final

"Our aim is to be out of the CVA prior to next season's Grand Final so that if we were successful in winning that there would be nothing to prevent us getting into Super League," adds Mr Beaumont.

The consortium will run the club with a three-man executive committee consisting of current director Steve Blakeley along with Mr Beaumont and Phil Coffey. Below them will be a five-man working party. It is likely a new chairman would be elected from among the eight.

Leigh's moves to sign ex-Great Britain pack star Sonny Nickle have taken a step forward with the player starting training with the Centurions this week.

Leigh hope to conclude a deal once the club's boardroom position is clearer.