Centurions need more support (From Leigh Journal)

Centurions need more support

in Match Reports By David Parkinson

LEIGH Centurions chairman Arthur Thomas will continue his support of the club but has sent out a rallying call to the Leigh area.

And he has spelt out that more help is needed if Super League ambitions are to be realised.

Thomas, who has been chairman since 2007, said: “When we signed Ian Millward as head coach expectations grew and then, with the wonderful start we had, they grew even higher.

“So the disappointment of defeat in the play offs and Northern Rail Cup hit harder.

“We now need to take the club to another level and to do that we need the support of everyone in Leigh - businesses and individuals alike.”

He continued: “Rumours have been rife since I took over as chairman about all these individuals in Leigh who would get involved and help us out.

“I have offered to anyone who is interested the opportunity to come on board and take this great club back to where it belongs. That offer remains.

“I will continue to my utmost ability to take the club forward but I cannot do it alone.

“We have a small but dedicated staff at the club, a small and dedicated crowd of spectators and a loyal band of sponsors and corporate clients but we need more.”

Thomas explained how Leigh have been unable to apply for a Super League franchise due to a shortfall in three areas - crowd average, pitch success and levels of turnover with the business.

“We need average crowds of 2,500,” he said.

“Our average totalled 2,309 this year so when the club asks fans to bring along a friend or offers incentives like reductions on general admission prices through season ticket sales you can see why even one more spectator can make a difference and that we are not so far away in ticking another Super League box.

“We also need to reach a Grand Final or win the Northern Rail Cup.

“While we were very disappointed in not reaching the Northern Rail or Grand Final, tremendous progress has been made on and off the pitch, and the club should be congratulated.

“Progress has been made over the past couple of years and there is more than an air of optimism.

“Also we need a turnover in excess of £1million pre VAT.

“This target is one where everybody's help would be appreciated. We need your thoughts and ideas regarding business development opportunities.

“We have seen the introduction of the Corporate Club. This has introduced valuable income and business opportunities yet there is massive scope for further interaction and income raising objectives and targets. This is in addition to the valued financial support from LISA, for which the club is grateful.”

Thomas concluded: “We are playing Rugby League at the best stadium in the game, with the best spectator facilities and now is the time for the whole town to unite as one. Together we can be as good as we want to be.

“Never has the terminology ‘United we stand, divided we fall' been more meaningful."