LEIGH’S immediate future may remain in doubt but RL bosses are planning for Centurions to take up their allotted place in the Betfred Championship next season.

Leigh officials attended a recent meeting of second tier and League One clubs.

And the game’s governing body confirmed this week Centurions’ are included in the 2019 fixture list to be released on Sunday, November 25.

Former Leigh favourite, John Duffy, is the latest player to be linked with the head coach vacancy even though he’s contracted to Featherstone Rovers until the end of 2019.

However, at the time of writing the club is still unable to make new signings while in dispute with two players who are contracted for next season.

Owner Derek Beaumont says those contracts would take up 40 percent of the budget for 2019.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester he said: “There is no way the club can survive if it’s got to pay two players full-time.

“I hope they accept the offers from me and hopefully we can rebuild over the next two or three years.”

Beaumont confirmed he is prepared to step aside providing there is “significant investment” adding “But nobody has come forward and I am still the owner and majority shareholder.”

As distant a prospect as it now seems Leigh could be playing at Wembley next season after RL bosses confirmed the launch of a new knockout competition.

The 1895 Cup will be played for by Championship and League One clubs in 2019 with the final taking place on Saturday, August 24, before the Challenge Cup final.

Full details will be announced when the fixtures are announced at the end of the month.

Discussing the new cup event Ralph Rimmer, chief operating officer of the Rugby Football League, said: “It’s a recognition the game has changed since the onset of full-time professionalism in the Super League era.

“That meant a good number of the Championship and League One clubs who have won the Challenge Cup in the past, reaching Wembley currently seems a distant dream.

“This innovation makes that dream of Wembley much more realistic and achievable.”

All but one of the 12 Championship clubs have previously won the Challenge Cup, sharing a total of 30 Cup wins – from Batley, who were the first winners in 1897, to Bradford Bulls, the most recent to do so in 2003.

RL bosses have confirmed the 2020 Challenge Cup final will be played in July. 18 while agreeing a new long-term agreement with Wembley.

*Former Leigh boss Paul Rowley is looking for a new job after leaving his post with Toronto Wolfpack after two seasons. Leeds’ four-time Grand Final winning coach Brian McDermott has been appointed Rowley’s successor.