LEIGH coach Eric Hughes has sensationally joined Wigan.

He quit Hilton Park after 17 matches in charge - leaving Leigh to search for their 18th coach in 20 years.

And, already, the Second Division club has had three enquiries for the job.

One application has come from overseas while the other two are from much closer to home. But Leigh will preserve confidentiality until an appointment is made.

"It's encouraging to know some people still see the Leigh coaching job as an attractive proposition," said chairman Mick Higgins.

Although Leigh want a quick appointment, they have set a time scale of two to three weeks before a new man is installed.

They will weigh up their options once the post has been advertised in various RL publications.

Hughes was released from his three-and-half-year contract by mutual agreement with Wigan wanting the former St Helens boss to take control of their Academy team and become Youth Development Officer as well as working alongside head coach Graeme West.

Wigan did face competition from another Super League club, a leading Australian side and a Rugby Union club.

But Central Park chairman Jack Robinson said: "Our Academy needs new impetus and we feel Eric is the right man for the job. He has great enthusiasm."

Former Academy coach Ray Unsworth takes the new role of skills and apprentice coach with the Alliance job, currently held by John Pendlebury, becoming a part-time position.

West stressed the importance of the appointment when he said: "There is not a great number of players available and it is vital we concentrate on a good youth policy."

In his brief five months stay at Hilton Park Hughes has become increasingly disillusioned with life in the lower division and frustrated at Leigh's lack of progress.

With the club's promotion bid never taking off, Hughes struggled to turn the club's playing fortunes round, hampered as he was by being unable to enter the transfer market.

Recent rumours of Hilton Park takeover bids have had a further unsettling effect and things came to a head last week when he had an emergency meeting with Higgins and asked to be released from his contract.

Leigh were reluctant to allow a coach of proven quality to leave but finally accepted the inevitable.

"Eric made it quite clear in our talks he was completely disillusioned," added Higgins. "He had personal problems and felt he couldn't make a significant contribution. In those circumstances it was best for all concerned if we released him from his contract"

Meanwhile, Leigh have landed three top youngsters from the town's English Schools' Premiership squad.

They have signed 16-year-olds Mark Southworth and Michael Higham and 15-year-old Gary Gittins. Southworth and Gittins are both second rowers while Higham is a hooker.

"These signings are a major achievement for us," said Football Director Allan Rowley. "Hopefully these will be the first of several signings from the schools squad. We have our sights on a few more."

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