LEIGH Genesis secretary Mary Croasdale feels the town’s semi-professional team would have had a better chance of survival had it not moved from Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

She does not feel enough support was forthcoming from Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and the LSV to make the team’s move from the now-demolished Hilton Park work out better.

Genesis ended up moving to Atherton Labernum Rovers’ Crilly Park ground for the 2010/11 season but the committee felt that was no longer financially possible at the end of a difficult relegation campaign and the decision to fold the semi-professional operation was confirmed last week.

Leigh Sports Village bosses have highlighted that it was not a viable option for the team to play at the new facility after their initial season.

Croasdale said in a club statement: “We left Hilton Park in 2008 on a long standing promise by the council that Leigh Sports Village Stadium would be our permanent home, but the original promises seem to have been ignored and financial gain has overtaken the original ideal of a ‘community stadium’.

“Blackburn Rovers Reserves play all their home matches at the ground and do not seem to struggle getting a lease at the ground, while the town’s own team is given the cold shoulder.”

She added: “Maybe Wigan MBC should look at the success of Chorley.

“They have enjoyed record crowds and secured promotion, all from the back of a supportive council, not to mention the coaching team, several board members and the majority of the playing staff that was in place at Leigh last season.”

She continued: “One of the most aggravating aspects of the club’s trials with the Leigh Sports Village was the stadium company turning down £400,000 of funding towards the massive cost of the project.

“This funding was obtained through the club via the Football Foundation but was never handed over to the stadium company as LSV chiefs would not assure the Football Foundation that Leigh Genesis would be playing there for the next 10 years.

“Surely any short-term financial hardship would have been cushioned by this amount? And who is filling that shortfall now?”

LSV bosses disagreed with points made by Croasdale and in response said: “As previously documented and agreed, Leigh Genesis was not viable at Leigh Sports Village (LSV) and on this premise Leigh Sports Village worked extremely hard with Atherton Laburnum Rovers to improve Crilly Park so that Leigh Genesis had somewhere appropriate to play last season.”

Genesis’ statement referred to an attempt to a return to the LSV but sharing with Leigh Athletic FC at Leigh Harriers’ athletics ground.

But LSV’s response was: “No formal approach has been made to Leigh Sports Village by Leigh Genesis for the use of the facilities, which are now fully committed to a wide range of community users.

“We hope that Leigh Genesis can mend their fences with Atherton Laburnum Rovers and withdraw their notice to quit Crilly Park and continue to play there as agreed last year.”

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council had offered no comment at the time of going to press.