What I actually said was that Paul was due to appear on the podcast but for other reasons couldn't make it. I'm looking to speak to the "men in the know" tomorrow for the Journal.

Sorry if I mis-reported you!

Keep digging.

Haha, no problem, just didn't want any non truths banded about.

I'm surprised, usually things of this nature (coach/chairmen/big announcements) happen when i'm off on-leave from work... did no-one check their calendar this time?

(I was off work when the consortium came in in 2003, when Darren Abram went in 2005, when Tony Benson was appointed, when Tony Benson went in 2006, when Darren Shaw came in for the 2007 season) so there is previous!

Same has the other Parky Fred you have too many holidays

Not heard anything at all Dave? not like leigh to actually keep things quite. Just hope there is something exciting in the wings that they have also kept to themselves.

They've done a good job on this one if the taphouses don't know what's happening! I reckon its just a case of sitting tight and more info will come out. As I mentioned on twitter am hoping to speak to Basil and Allan Rowley at some point tomorrow for the Journal and I plan to then put more out. These things are weird, as Michael Ward mentioned before, it's like a vacuum for a bit, things get disorientated. Like when we were told the backside fell out of the club in 2006 with the staff resignations and it carried on.

I would also like to thank Arthur for all his efforts, but I am not going to panick. There are two things in his statement that make me feel that everything will be fine. The fact that he has said that he is leaving his position with the club in a good shape and his statement says that he has taken the club as far as he can which says to me that there is a younger person or person with a lot more dosh waiting in the wings to take over the ranes. Arthur must have spent a fortune getting us to were we are and it must be heartbreaking not seeing our town turn up in numbers, but the tallent is proving itself on the field and they will come. I hope that Arthur and myself for that matter live to see the LSV packed to the rafters with Leythers one day. I really hope that IM does not see this as his time to go and does not use Arthurs stepping down as a reason.

I'll be honest, i'm bricking it. The only thing that is keeping me slightly positive is I trust AT. I have to believe that he wouldn't have retired without knowing there was someone to replace him.

Guys n Gals

Don't worry, be happy.

Great things await us, AT has done a fantastic job but he is 70+ and has bottoms to his pockets - he has done much more than anyone could have asked financially and should be made a honourary Leyther, Knight of the Club.

Our problem is a structure whereby those not tipping in the pot have a say in how the club is run, the set up of SCL was wrong from day 1. No new blood would come in whilst that structure was around, with luck AT will force them out with his actions, creating a pathway for that new blood to invest in the dream.

In 2003 Nolan said to me the club needed £150k a year to balance the books, I believe the club got in such a mess AT had to pump much more than that into it but IM has now got it under control and back to around that figure.

Put simply, Directors need to put in a minimum of £150k pa and be willing to put in more when needed. As many know I believe in taking ownership and fans sharing that burden with individual investors, but the structure must be flexible to move any investor who fails to meet his obligation from the decision making process and a dilution in his shareholding.

I believe that if we dont have one major investor we have enough from within our fan base to share the burden amongst, and again I cannot stress my passion to ensure we, the fans, play our role in the exciting future that lies ahead.

The future is bright. The glass is half full.

Hope you're right Maurice.

How many shareholders at what cost would it take to run a club of Leighs size if it were to go that way?

I like the £25k pa figure, so 6 would meet that and I would like 50 fans to find £500 pa each to be a part of it.
So 5 required and a supporters trust.

I can only gather from here this has come totally out of the blue? Though it would seem Thomas' pleas for the fans to get involved where a lot more important than just a token statement.

You'd hope there was someone waiting to take over but surely there would be some kind of mention? Or takeover gossip at the very least?

Maybe worrying times but fingers crossed something comes about sooner than later. Heh we had our darkest hour in 2007 but that led to the club being run better than ever before behind the scenes.

Leigh are a big club and the town breaths Rugby League from what I've witnessed. You play / train in state of the art facilities... The on field product is there already so it must be an attractive option for anyone looking to get involved with rugby league be they a Leigh fan or not!

Are there no Egyptian born money men round here? there seems to be in Dull ha, oh for a million pound investment!

To add I doubt anyone who would have put as much time and effort in as Mr Thomas would have left you in trouble and I'd bet had you covered too the end of the season at least