LEIGH RMI chairman Chris Healey has explained the lengths his club and Leigh Centurions went to in an effort to avoid the New Years' Day Hilton Park fixture clash.

Both teams have scheduled home matches - RMI against Northwich Vics and the Centurions against Swinton - but after lengthy discussions with the Nationwide Conference and the Rugby League the only way out is a festive double-header.

RMI will kick off at noon with the Centurions starting at 4pm. For a special admission price of £8 fans can watch both matches.

"It's been a real headache," admitted Mr Healey. "We've tried all ways to get round it but it quickly became clear that both clubs were bound by rulings made by their respective administrative bodies.

"We couldn't move our game and the Centurions couldn't switch theirs either. So we had to sit down and thrash out a double-header deal." The busiest workers will be the Hilton Park groundstaff who will only have a couple of hours at the end of the soccer game to switch posts and re-mark the pitch ahead of the rugby clash.

"It's not ideal but it does give fans of both clubs the opportunity to support each other," adds Mr Healey."We're going to put entertainment on and try to make it a really good family day. All we pray for is some fair weather."