LEIGH Centurions fans will have to wait a little longer to discover the identity of head coach John Duffy’s squad for the 2020 Betfred Championship season.

While the rumour mill has been busy trying to second guess Centurions’ team for next year, the club continues to keep its counsel about impending recruitment.

Leigh finished fourth in the game’s second tier in 2019 but will look to mount a more serious challenge for the top next term.

Duffy is expected to retain a number of the squad that finished with three successive defeats.

But it is anticipated there will be around 15 full-time players supplemented by part-time team mates.

One player linked to Leigh is former star Jamie Ellis who was 30 earlier this month.

Ellis’s future at Castleford has been thrown into doubt with the arrival from St Helens of Tigers’ former Leigh loanee, Danny Richardson.

But suggestions Ellis could be re-united with coach and former team mate, Duffy appear wide of the mark as he player appears keen to stay in Super League.

However, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup winner, Nathan Mason, could return after spells at London Broncos and Sheffield Eagles following his loan at Leigh Sports Village in 2018.

Duffy will be keen to fill the vacancy left by the promising young hooker or loose forward, Joe Cator.

A contender for Championship young player of the year, the versatile Cator, who made 20 appearances and scored five tries for Centurions in 2019, has signed a two-year deal with Hull FC.

Cator is a former Hull KR youngster but supported the Black and Whites as a youngster.

“I was in a good position at the end of the season so I was lucky enough to have a few options in Super League,” said the 21-year-old.

“But as soon as Hull came calling, my hometown and boyhood club, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

One player tipped to succeed Cator is former Bradford Bulls and Hull KR utility star, Danny Addy.

The 28-year-old Scottish international made 22 appearances for the Robins last season after an anterior cruciate ligament injury wrecked his campaign in 2018.

Addy, Liam Hood and Ryan Brierley are in Scotland’s squad for the 2021 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Greece.

The Bravehearts open their campaign against Serbia in Glasgow on Saturday.