LOWERHOUSE professional Jon Kent has lost his fitness fight and is returning to South Africa.

The Kwa-Zula-Natal all-rounder has missed the Transco Lancashire League club's last nine games with a hip tendon injury and despite intensive treatment has shown no sigs of an imminent recovery.

Chairman David Wren said: "We are very disappointed.

"We were confident on signing Jon that we had secured an exciting talent which sadly we have not had the pleasure of seeing this season.

"There is no doubt that he has class and I'm sure we will see him developing into a fine player over the next few years.

"We wish him every success for the Natal this winter and will monitor his progress closely."

The Liverpool Road club will continue to use substitute professionals for the remainder of the season and will have South African David Callaghan, playing for St Annes in the Northern Premier League, in their side to face Colne on Sunday as they look to continue their climb up the table.

"We are still very confident of having a successful year and it is a credit to all the players that we have won the last four league games, despite constant changes in the professional personnel," added Wren.