Incorrect assertion Neil, to the very best of my knowledge there is no connection of any sort between Leigh East and Swinton Lions other than the fact my business is a current sponsor of both clubs.

For clarity we sponsor many sporting organisations and foundations in the North West of England, Steve Prescott Foundation, Leigh RU Girls, BARLA ARLFC (Lancashire), Magull Boys Community Football club (Liverpool), Leigh Community Foundation just to name a handful off the top of my head.

As for committee resistance, I'm not on the committee at East, however the majority of the committee are Centurions supporters and there is a good relationship between the Chairman and the Centurions Board which hopefully can develop as and hopefully when a youth structure of some sorts is implemented.

Everyone I speak with at East who I engage with is fully supportive of the towns professional club.

Don't let facts get in the way of a good rumour mate eh...

The Mrs is coming tomorrow (part timer) & asked "who is Anthony Gelling" !!!

At what cost ?

To be honest MC,you seem to have built your model elsewhere.From reading your posts there seems to be bridges to be built.Hopefully that bridge will be built,instead of déjà vu.

I'm not sure what the current funding from the RFL is for having an academy in SL.Surely stabilty to secure funding for an academy must be based on stability of the professional club!

Serious post time.
We sit between the best junior/academy set up in English rugby of any code at Wigan, and established SL clubs in Wire and Saints - the best kids will aspire to those clubs for the foreseeable future.
To build an alternative will take a number of things. Time, it won't happen overnight. SL status- without it you simply work with your local amateur clubs to produce more better players and pick up the ones who get left out at 19. Investment/will - if you are not committed and prepared to fund it then don't bother. Reputation - to attract you have to have a great one.