a couple of months ago, the list had Adam Milner, Nathan Massey, Sonny Bill Williams and Joe Greenwood - so it does keep changing!

Micky Higham to Leigh for 50k

50k for a 34 yr old for 16 month contract? hmm.

Hmm indeed. It seems they see him as the final piece of the jigsaw that will ensure promotion. The £50k will seem a bargain if that happens. A more mysterious element is how they can fit a SL player, who presumably won't be on a small amount of money, onto their cap in the Championship?

How stable a financial footing are they on currently? How cashed up is this Beaumont character?

Expect another NRL addition prior to the 8's as well. Significantly under the cap still, with great income coming in smashing forecasts and an owner who has a life ambition he is prepared to finance when needed.

To help you out Leigh got £550k from Sky, are averaging 4k per game against a budget of under 3k, have a sold out corporate most games which includes 22 exec boxes plus main lounge (200), Shirt sponsorship doubled again (I do business with one of the Saints sponsors, we got more for the same spot on our shirt), very active Supporters club raising £40k pa, £60k lottery profits, Great deal now with LSV, have a decent share of any LSV profits - Elton John ticket sales were close to £2m, CC run, BBC series, record merchandise, etc Great being a Leyther at present.

Impressive, if only you guys would let us all know more often how great you are......


Seriously though. Very good signing, is everyone still sure no championship clubs are coming up through the middle 8's???

I think Leigh have to be applauded for getting all these good signings under the salary cap. They have a fair few Superleague standard players who wouldn't be cheap. I wonder if they are on incentive based contracts or back loaded ones. Either way well done.

But you're still 'just a few streets in Wigan'.

In all seriousness it's great for the sport to see a club who was on its backside not long ago showing the drive and ambition that they are. The sport for too long has given an easy ride to lazy clubs who sat safe in the knowledge that their superleague place was steady and they had to do little to safeguard that.

Leigh are shaking things up and showing what can be done. The squad building has been shrewd and they seem to have the commercial side sussed. There's a real buzz about the place and I sincerely hope they gain a place in superleague for next year.

Of all the clubs from the lower divisions, Leigh is the one I've missed the most. Leigh was my first away match back in 1987. Had some great times watching matches under the main stand.

Always a great bunch of fans, too.

Saints and Leigh fans together form mankind's last, best hope against the Evil Forces of Wigwam.

(P.S. 50k for Higham is a rip-off)

What is the league 1 (or whatever it's called now) salary cap?

Gone up from 400k last year to 1million this year.

Also with Penky maybe out for the season we were 1 bad injury to Bob Beswick away from our season going off the rails. If Micky can help us get into SL then 50k is a bargain.

Well, I say, quite unironically, well done to Leigh for all of that.

It's great to see more RL clubs getting stronger.

Championship is £1m. League 1 is £250,000

I don't know who clinched the argument for upping the cap to ONE MILLION from 400k. But I'm guessing he qualified for performance related pay.

Seems as though wafer-thin increases are merely the stuff of my own career.

I think the financial turnaround of Leigh in 2-3 years has been remarkable and commend you on your success. Maybe the behind the scenes management teams of clubs should share their experiences more so more clubs in the game can benefit. After all we all want the game a whole to be successful. If all clubs had the growing success off the field that Leigh had it would be great for all.