MICKY Higham has issued a rallying cry to the town after tumultuous recent events cast a shadow over Leigh Centurions’ future.

Despite the rapid fall from grace for last season’s Super League outfit, the veteran hooker has urged his team mates to finish the season on the highest possible note.

Higham, who celebrates his 38th birthday next month, also says the club must stabilise and put contingency plans in place as quickly as possible.

“There are still plenty of unknowns,” said Higham who succeeds Harrison Hansen as club captain.

“We just have to put that to the back of our mind and worry about that when the season finishes.

“Now, it’s important to stabilise and to get things in place as soon as possible. Let’ rebuild for next year.

“This is a proud club and we have got a great fan base. We are going to rely on the species continuing to come out in their numbers.

“They were loud and proud at the end against Sheffield and we owe it to them to really put in some good performances.

“We are not in the league we want to be. But let’s express ourselves and play to the best we can.

“Some lads might be putting themselves in the shop window; others may be helping to re-build the club up again.”

Higham admitted the events of last week that saw the departures of: Hansen, Peter Mata’utia, Craig Hall and Ben Crooks were tough to take.

“It was a bit surreal the first day or so,” he said. Then ‘H’ texted me to say he was leaving and it began to hit home.

“I would love to have kept ‘H’ because he epitomised everything about this club.

“But you can’t fault them for thinking about themselves and their families. It is short career and they have got to do what they can.”

Despite the exodus, Leigh have held onto — for the time being- the likes of Liam Hood, Matty Dawson-Jones, Ben Reynolds and Drew Hutchison.

When the second part of the league season resumes on the weekend of August 18-19, Leigh will be tilting for the Championship Shield.

The fixtures, including four home games, were scheduled for release after the Journal went to press.

“Someone might make a film out of all this it one day,” smiled Higham.

“Or a pantomime.”

On his promotion to captain again Higham added: “Kieron Purtill asked me if I would take the role on and I said I would be honoured.

“I didn’t think twice.

“Hopefully we can finish something special.

“We are professional and we will give it our best shot.”