IAN Millward has pleaded for financial backing to help maintain Leigh Centurions' standing as one of the top teams outside Super League.

The Centurions' coach has set his sights on four new signings before the season kicks off on Boxing Day but negotiations have hit a brick wall because of a lack of cash.

Two of his main targets are the former Sheffield Eagles duo Paul Anderson and Simon Baldwin. Both are willing to join their hometown club if the right deals can be struck.

Anderson played five games during two loan spells towards the end of last season while his former Don Valley team-mate Baldwin spent two seasons with the Eagles after moving to Halifax from Leigh in 1994-95.

Millward is desperate to sign the pair to increase his options in the pack.

"They are both Leigh lads who are keen to play for the hometown team. They're both still quite young yet have bags of Super League experience," he says.

But the Centurions' coach needs some outside help.

"The reduction of income from News Limited is a big handicap and we have to start looking for outside sponsorship deals to sign players of this quality.

"People said they would support a winning team; some others said they would only back us if Mick Higgins was no longer involved. Both those things have happened - so the time's come for them to put their hands up and be counted.

"We've provided all the answers as to why they would not support the club.

"I'm desperate to get some new blood into the squad. If I could bring in four new players it would only give us the same size of squad as last year. But if I could get those players I want, then the squad will be a lot stronger and of a higher quality and we'd be in a better position to compete with the other top teams in the NFP.

"We need businesses or individuals could get together and sponsor these players."

In addition to Anderson and Baldwin, Millward has also got a centre and and winger in his sights.

"I want a replacement in the centres for Alan Hadcroft and want a quality finisher out wide who has genuine pace," he adds.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.