Where the hell did that come from? I have been fortunate (or old enough) to have watched all the current members of the PPA and some who are no longer with us. To say I am disgusted with your crass, uninformed statement is putting it mildly.

Good men they may be and I respect what they have done for Leigh overall these years. It does sound like they have grounds for complaint - BUT they automatically lose the argument irrespective of their case by this extremely unhelpful and provocative action.

Do they seriously want to wreck all the hard work that has been done? Did they raise these issues when they thought the club was going under? No, they waited until as soon as it looked as though the club had a future and then dug up the corpse and paraded it around for all to see. The associations secretary has managed to keep his absence secret for the last 2 years and now it all comes out in the open.

Sabotage - that is what it is. And if it is not sabotage, it is simple naievete at best and plain stupidity at worst.

The people at the Leigh Reporter should examine their consciences as well. Do they think they are standing in for the News of the World or something?

mr. chairman, I understand your passion on this. But tell me, how can Trevor fix this issue with the PPA if they won't even talk to him?

There are issues, there have been issues and there will be issues, and the PPA feel (rightly) disrespected - but how is bloody minded stubbornness the answer? If the PPA is willing to get around a table and talk to Trevor in a reasonable, professional way that befits their status, then my criticisms of them are withdrawn and only the club will have been at fault.

An amicable resolution to this could be in sight, if the PPA agree to talk to the club.

Keith,

The LSV has given the go-ahead to put mementoes of the Club's history in the bar concourses, the Legends Bar and the Banqueting Room. The first evidence of this should appear in the North Stand concourse very soon - with the other areas following, as and when funds are available. (from the Club)

It has taken time, but was achieved by the Club and LSV getting together and talking. I am not interested in who is right or wrong over the PPA issue - surely BOTH parties are big enough to sit down and talk, like grown-ups, and get these guys (many of whom I also am 'in awe of') back where they belong. I implore that they take up Trevor's offer, (which had the full backing of the PSG and wasn't just TB working off his own bat)

To be fair the stuff that will appear in the concourse this weekend has been sorted by the Leigh community Trust ie Hannah and Heather with the lSV, the funding Hannah has got and she will look to have the West Stand done if and when she can get funding.
However Alan is right the Past Players do need to try and talk to the LSV with Trevor as Trevor always tries to sort things out, its not doing the Club any good all this bickering and backstabbing and telling tales to newspapers. I think we need the Past Players, they represent the History of the club, they wore their shirts with pride, it would be a crying shame for it to all be given up on, over things that happened in the past.
This last couple of years the Club and the LSV have been getting together and talking to each other and the LSV have started to help the club more and Im 100 % sure a resolution can be found. Perhaps the Past Players could elect a new spokesperson/chairman and starts talks with |Trevor and the LSV.

There are two sides to every argument and as one poster has said, we haven't heard the LSV side, only that of the Past Players. I don't think this is a major problem because from what I understand there is only a handful of players involved. Alf Wilkinson was heavily involved with the PP association and so was Tony Cooke and Mick Stacey. Tony has fallen out with them for some reason and I dont think Alf or Mick are as much involved nowadays. I think Mick Martyn will be probably the instigator of the release to the Reporter last week and the Journal this. Lets hope the publicity can bring the two sides together with a mutually agreed arrangement.

Do Leigh Centurions not rent the stadium or parts of the stadium on match days? If so, isn't it then down to the Centurions who is and isn't allowed in the various rooms/lounges? Or do Leigh Centurions only pay a percentage of every ticket/hospitality package sold? Do Leigh Centurions therefore have to pay to accommodate visiting directors/non-playing staff?

Here's a solution:

PPA members pay £100 a year to LCRLFC, LCRLFC provide a seasons pass to the upstairs bar and LSV agree to moving the Hall of Fame into the bar.

All PPA members with the club at heart would jump at this, I would even suggest they select a seat that would be reserved by name in the central west stand.
I would also look for sponsors to provide some food for them, lobby, chilli, pasta type - it would cost no more than £100 per game for 30-40 , I will sponsor the first lot of grub as well.

Jason Donohue has just tweeted he is meeting Trevor Barton today to discuss a new PPA which is a great positive move, also Neil Turley declared an early interest also.

Well I hope so too Alan and can only hope that both sides see that it is in the best interests of the club and it's followers - here's hoping it can be resolved quickly

It's very important the older players are involved as well as the young ones.

The PPA could hold dinners etc which would raise money for match tickets and their food when they invite other clubs PPA.

History is great but it don't pay any bill's.
It would seem this 'dispute' pre-dates the present 'regime' so Mr Chairmans comments re Mr Barton appear ill founded on this matter,and one would wonder whether this isn't something personal between Mr Lathom and Mr Barton? because one is Leigh east and the other miners Rangers, to let personal feelings come into this is a little underhand and only serves to muddy the waters somewhat.
How many of the 'active' past players association are there? and how many continue to attend games now that the 'free tap' has been turned off, surely that is an indication of their real feelings for the club, or it the typical Leigh disease of 'I'm not going because Mick Higgins once XXXXXXX or MIke Nolan said XXXXXX or even Jack Harding should have XXXX'?
Seems to me that ego's are getting in the way of discussion.
If some other past players wish to form another PPA then good on them but no political shennanaigans should be involved at all.