LEIGH RMI's hopes of Conference survival have taken a massive blow after the FA banned them from signing new players.

The move came after players at Hilton Park - both past and present - went without payment for months despite the best efforts of the management committee.

And although the club says that all deficits will be rectified as soon as possible, it could be well after the festive period when Steve Waywell can add to his beleaguered squad.

The under-pressure manager has recently added Halifax Town striker Simon Parke to his Christmas wish list, but after the bombshell it seems unlikely that anyone will be coming to aid the struggling semi-professionals in the near future.

And the need for change is certainly there.

In defence, Neil Durkin and Wayne Maden in particular are undergoing woeful periods of form, there is no partner for the prolific Dino Maamria as of yet and Phil Salt is struggling in the midfield.

The club must now resign itself to a winter of discontent with many players who are not fit enough nor good enough to sustain Conference football for yet another season.

But the most stinging criticism has been of players lacking desire.

The squad is the most cohesive unit that there has been at Hilton Park since Horwich upped sticks from Grundy Hill at the end of 1994. They have recently chipped in a few bob apiece to buy a stereo for the dressing room and improve the atmosphere from campaigns gone by.

That it coincides with claims of "lack of desire" and "no fighting spirit" from the management can only be counter-productive now in the knowledge that the same set of players will now be at the club for a lot longer than expected.

Yet there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

At his best, Leigh's very own Andy Heald can be quite brilliant, although many feel that unless he is playing in the hole behind the frontmen his potential isn't maximised.

Further to that, the promise of Stuart Whittaker, Neil Tolson and goalkeeper Stuart Coburn promises to be a potent mix if ever the three can shine on the same day.

Whether the club can keep hold of starlet Coburn in the current climate is under considerable scrutiny. It's fair to say that without the former Altrincham 'keeper, RMI would be enduring an even bleaker Christmas.