I think what quite a few people are missing is that the clubs finances are another reason why the club is having to move in this direction..

If the Leigh fans want a winning team capable of getting into SL then this partnership bringing the odd top class youngster into the club is a good move we have,nt got the money to bring in class established players youth is the way to go look at Wigans team plenty of young players in there first team squad that's the way Leigh are going over the next few years and this tie up with Wigans youth will profit Leigh that I'm sure

I hardly think Wigan woud want to help you develop a team capable of geting into Super League this is not what they want you couldn`t have their own feeder club in Super League alongside them it would defeat their object.

Feeder club Wigan is Leigh's feeder club ...

I suppose some questions unanswered would be...



1) Why did our CEO change his opinion of this partnersip with Wigan after stating it wouldn't happen.



2) What happens to any Leigh players further down the pecking order player wise that loses a spot (temporarily) to a Wigan player , if we bring 5 in (which I'd imagine will happen at some point) how does this sit with the clubs new stance on looking after borough developed players - especially if the Wigan players are originally from out of the borough.



3) Have we said we will have a maximum figure of DR's from Wigan : ie if the RFL raise it to 7 or 8 next year (mindful its risen every year since it started and so many SL and Championship clubs have seemingly embraced the idea) would Leigh run with that as we have been keen on using DR since it commenced.



4 ) With this news in the pipeline and with Paul quite keen on a arrangement with Wigan (mindful of his piece in the papers pre season in which he mentioned how Leigh fans would be 'excited' about the quality of players Wigan would lend us )did this influence the boards willingness to put Paul on a new contract before a ball was kicked this season (a unusual one for a RL club to do) and was this why Richie left the club suddenly.



5) With our new found interest in developing the Boroughs youth is there a plan to get the boroughs populace aware of Leigh Centurions existance and if so are Wigan helping us do this as to some it would be viewed as a clear conflict of interest to both parties.



6) What input would any Wigan Warriors employee have on the day to day operations of Leigh Centurions , on or off field.



7 ) Wigan (and Mr Wane) have a history of not linking with Leigh (inparticular during Ian Millwards tenure), is the agreement breakable at any point (as per Mr Wanes stance on G Hock at Widnes for certain fixtures) or is it a legally binding document that neither party can break without the others agreement.



8 ) Does the CEO / Board and head coach feel this will enhance the 'I beLEIGHve' campaign or do they now feel by having to go into a partnership with a SL that this has probably signalled the end of that campaign.



9) With rumours of SL going to 2 leagues of 10 and some SL owners publicly speaking about that as a preference has Leigh had word from the RFL that it was unlikely we would be in that group of 20 so is this a reason why we have entered a partnership with Wigan some way into the season when other twinned clubs linked up much earlier (including Wigan with South Wales).



10 ) Was Leigh / Wigan the first choice for a partnership for both clubs or did both have other preferences that fell through.



11 ) I presume the board are fully aware that Fridays actions will outrage and disgust a lot of current Leigh fans as much as it may please or unfaze others, has it taken steps to ensure the club doesn't hit more financial trouble and has another potential shortfall following its actions, is there plans to entice Wigan fans to the LSV to watch some of there players play for Leigh for example or other means should a crowd drop occur.



12 ) If this partnership collapses is there a Plan B for Leigh Centurions and if so what is it.

I refer you to a previous post on another (more lengthy!

) topic. If you were to ask Wigan whether they want Leigh in SL, you would probably be surprised by their answer.

Quite simply with 2 off field employees we have NO chance of SL

Having read the feedback on the forum since I posted I don't think I will bother approaching the BoD re a forum as it seems that people have taken firm positions and debate would not improve hints but may inflame them.



It has certainly reminded me why I've never got involved with the official side of things though!



Ps - as I have lived in Appley Bridge for 28 years I obviously would not be welcome by some posters on here as living within the wards of Leigh is a necessity for knowing the right thing to do for the club!

If you refer to your post re` Kris Ladrinsky ,well that surprises me as I didn`t know Kris was invited to the RFL away days where the Club Reps decide between themselves which way they are going to vote over issues such as Twinning etc .

People tell lies Alan , all the time

In fairness it was a fair idea put across by someone who obviously cares about the club but I suspect emotions would run exceptionally high.

I think this announcement has actually managed to divide our remaining support base (and I'm not just talking about views from the internet forums) which as you alluded to can be exceptionally damaging to the club and its future.

Maybe things will calm down over time but with everything else going on in the game which is annoying people I suspect the timing of this couldn't have been any worse if indeed there is ever a right time for Leigh to announce its partnering with Wigan.

The trouble is that many similar questions have been asked at recent fans forums and the answers appear to have changed significantly since then.



Something of a middle ground may be a clear, concise statement from the club (or both?), detailing in plain English EXACTLY the aims, benefits and long term plans of the partnership.

Toady , please do not take this stance , everyone is entitled to an opinion , wherever they are from , your ideas and views are always most welcome .

If you are so convinced about that, I find it a sad attitude. How about you, do you always tell the truth?

No, I dont, but I get more told to me, than I tell, and if I got told less, then the less I would have to tell



Its irrespective of what Wigans opinion of our SL potential is, but partnerships,special relationships , influential friends and brown nosing wont get us into or make us viable for SL



You cannot ' Social climb ' or bull**** your way in, because if you do, when you get there it will all fall apart

I think the loyal fans deserve (no demand) a fans forum so they can listen to the official signed partnership in more detail and in person.



At least attempt to allay some genuine concerns of loyal supporters who are now walking away (myself included) - I would attend and could possibly be convinced about it but at the moment I only have an ambigious statement presented to me.



The fact that the club will not arrange one probably speaks volumes and I will just add this statement before I go.



[uThe likes of TV Boy, Charlie and others who are turning my and other peoples genuine concerns about my club evolving into ANOTHER club's feeder club and twisting it into some kind of bigoted race agenda against Wiganers are pathetic.



In fact it's rather shameful[/u

I am old enough and lucky enough to have witnessed some fantastic matches between Leigh and Wigan in the 70s and 80s, some of which we won. The rivalry between Leigh and Wigan has always been intense and not just on the rugby field. The current BoD have either underestimated the hatred of Leigh for Wigan, or rode rough shod over their customers feelings. Not a penny more of my (or my family's) money will go into this club until this scandalous decision is revoked. So that's 4 adults knocked off the crowd figures each match.

Speaking to people in the street who are not fantatical fans, the perception in Leigh is we are a feeder club to Wigan. Whether that is strictly true or not is irrelevant. As a very clever ex-CEO of mine used to say: In business Perception is Reality.

I was out for a couple of drinks in town yesterday and the club have misjudged the mood of the town massively. Genuinely concerned. I am talking of regulars, ST holders, familiar faces deciding enough is enough and vowing to stay away because they have no wish to support a club which they now view is becoming more and more a feeder club for Wigan



I urge Toadstool to use his connections with Mr Barton and persuade him to call a fans forum to get some facts aired at least.



It is absolutely essential.

Harold believe me im not PATHETIC ,and im a LOYAL SUPPORTER , always have been ,always will be , and im twisting nothing , this is just my opinion , keep yours to yourself about me .

I agree with Charlie. Why are we pathetic just because we don't see it the same as you

Not going on about the partnership again as I doubt we will ever have more than a couple of loan/dc players anyways.



What stay away fans might consider however is that if we got a thousand more coming through the gate for each match the club would not need DC or loan players or agreements because we would be able to have enough squad players of our own.



Take Tom Spencer we would then be able to afford to offer him a contract. At the end of the day to have a successful team you need decent support.



We have a fine squad of players this season. They need our fans to get behind them instead of our fans thinking I will go back only if the partnership agreement is annulled.

I think they're all pathetic then. I'm not sure how many more facts you need, it's all there in black and white and in Trevor's interview with Dave Parky (for those who are interested in facts rather than believing in half-truths and imagined Wigan takeovers).



All I can say to those fans who no longer wish to support the club; what exactly have the players who pull on the Leigh shirt week in, week out, done to deserve your disloyalty?



Show your contempt for the CEO and BOD if you must but don't turn your back on the boys.