LEIGH Centurions should have announced their Northern Ford Premiership fixturesthis week.

Instead, Leigh and the rest of the NFP are in chaos after the Rugby League was forced to withdraw its original fixture list due to continued confusion over the inclusion of Bramley/and or/Sheffield.

So with just a month to go before the new campaign gets underway, the Centurions still can't tell their fans who they play and when.

The fixtures, finalised last week on the basis that the competition would comprise the same 18 clubs as last season, were thrown into confusion when Bramley announced that they wanted to withdraw their membership, inviting Sheffield to take their place. The complicating factor, however, is that Bramley believed they could withdraw from the competition and retain their entitlement to sponsorship funds from News Limited. Bramley want to put the money into a trust fund for junior development in Leeds.

The issue will now be debated at today's meeting of RFL directors while the NFP clubs will hold a meeting on Friday.

The draft fixtures, which have been with the clubs for a couple of weeks, show Leigh opening the season with a mouth-watering Hilton Park clash with Widnes Vikings on Boxing Day followed by a trip to Rochdale at New Year.

"We don't know if those will now apply," says Leigh coach Ian Millward.

"From a players' point of view it doesn't really have much effect at this stage. All we are concentrating on is getting ready for that first game - whoever we are playing.

"But from a commercial and fans' standpoint it's a nightmare with the club desperately trying to market its season tickets and sponsorship packages, both of which are a vital source of income."

The RFL is now hoping to issue the NFP fixtures next Monday.

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