According to Twitter; "Leigh's Past Players Association has cut all ties with the Centurions. Full story in this week's Leigh Reporter"

Anyone know what the craic is for those of us who rarely see a Reporter?

Its a sad affair and has been the same for a couple of seasons now. The PPA was previously a very strong association, with a lot of active members. During the later days of Hilton Park they used to occupy the Woodys Bar on match days, entertaining visiting Past Players. It started to go down hill when the Club went to the Sports Village. The PP used to assemble in the Legends Bar but that privilage was withdrawn and they were then offered the banqueting Lounge upstairs as their meeting point but were asked to pay £40 per person for the privilge. They refused to pay it and the association's relationship with the Centurions became very strained. That is just the tip of the iceberg and there are more 'disagreements' that have come to light recently. When Bob Shuttleworth stops watching Leigh, something is seriously wrong and he hasnt been now for at least two seasons. Lets hope they can sort it out but it will be hard work knowing the animosity that exists between the two sides.

But is this a problem quite simply that everything has to be payed for through the LSV , the club itself has no control over who and how much it has to charge people to enter the stadium , and use the facilities therein ?

Well what I can't understand about this is why the past players were prevented from going into the Legends Bar as I thought you could go in for nothing. Re the £40 for going into the Banqueting suite surely Starbug is right ?

If this is the case why can't the past players not just go in the upstairs bar with the touchdown club for nothing. They will pay for their beer and would be good for everyone. If I was thinking about becoming a touch down member then that sort of thing may just swing my decision to become one. The past players can't be a burden on the club in the present money climate but they could and should be an asset. Get your heads together club and past greats and sort this out. It's good to talk. It's even better to drink and talk.

How did the Legends Bar gain that name?? From the concept I thought there would have been 'legends' in the bar. Or at least pictures at the very least... What ever happened to the hall of fame that was in woodys bar, I always enjoyed looking at those.

They could still be contemplating on what to do.... maybe there'll be a Blackburn rovers hall of fame instead

Totally agree, needs sorting, they deserve better.

Well they were the first team playing out of LSV to win a trophy.

If the LSV are the problem then why is the PPA cutting all ties with the Centurions? Does the association want the Centurions to pay for them to attend games? Surely they wouldn't want to place any further financial burden on the Centurions given the current circumstances!

the club cant afford to let people in for nothing.

I very much doubt it is about getting in for nothing but charging them forty quid a head to give them a corner to have a chat is a bit over the top.
Isn't it ironic that the legends can't get in the Legends Bar?

This is an absolute disgrace, ex Leigh RLFC Legends being treated this way, The people who run The Leigh Sports Village, what a bunch of *****rs.
Can ex Leigh Players still get in FREE at The Concrete Morgue like they did at Hilton Park, bet they can't.

What used to happen at HP, the ex players etc all could get a pass for the season, at a set price and that got them into the matches and the bars, where as now the club cant allow that, as its not their own ground, and they aren't allowed to let anyone in without a ticket.
Im sure though there could be a way of sorting it at out, they need to send someone in to speak with a rep from the LSV and the Club and maybe they could come to an agreement.

This definately needs bringing up at the next fans forums & get sorted if not then the legends bar needs to be renamed

Still struggling to see why they can't be let in to the Legends Bar when admission is open to all?

I don't recall seeing any past players at either HP or the LSV. Come to think of it I saw Mick Martyn a couple of time at Hilton Park. What is the purpose of the PPA? Is it to allow them to have freebies? If so I don't see the point really, when the club doesn't get anything out of it. It is not something the club can afford.

I know Kevin Ashcroft doesn't come as he doesn't get any freebies

Surely we should have a past players ranking system - Woody, Dessy, Martyn, Murphy, Wilky, Streety and possibly a few others who spent many years here or had such a big impact on the club should be treated as hall of famers and given a lifetime pass into the upstairs bar - I am sure sponsors and fans would welcome the opportunity to have a chat.
The Legends bar should be available as a meeting point for the organisation on any matchday, with facilities upstairs available for more formal gatherings at a reduced rate.

I disagree Maur. If you can afford to pay (not £40 a game) for a season pass say £100 then pay and have accsess as described. If a past player is retired or out of work then free. I'm sure the past players would agree to this seeing as we are skint. The other one as you describe Maur is to sponsor the PPA. Who will though.

Didn't the PPA used to donate money every year to the club? I'm sure I remember them presenting Arthur with one of those big cheques.

yeah, they also used some of the money they raised to fund their christmas party, oh did they not mention that?
YES those players may have given thier all for the club, some may not but they also got PAID for doing so.
Something else they forgot to mention.

They was asked to pay something like a tenner each to cover the lsv costs but considered that too much.

remember, theres always two sides to a story

'They' didn't mention anything, I was merely asking a question.

would like to see this get sorted publicly like it was raised.

Will raise this issue at the next PSG meeting on Tuesday. We mustn't be too busy looking forward, to forget our heritage - and these guys are very much part of that. Some of them were my heroes!

There are very definitely two sides to the story, but the time has now come, to get people together and sort this out. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, we can't afford for egos to get in the way!