Leigh RMI v. Accrington Stanley preview

By Matt Lawton
December 10 2004

One of the most famous names in football makes the short trip to Hilton Park on Saturday, and RMI officials will be hoping for a big crowd after a large appeal for support in the loca press this weekend.

This week RMI made the front pages of the local newspapers and the headlines on the local radio for the first time since the very real threat of extinction towards the end of last season with an appeal from the likes of RMI chairman Bill Taylor and MP for Leigh Andy Burnham for more support for the club, with relegation and financial oblivion once again hanging over the club. What sort of response there will be remains to be seen, but with an encouraging performance in the 1-1 draw with high-flying Scarborough on Tuesday night to halt a slide of eleven consecutive defeats and a large travelling support guaranteed then it is hoped that a large crowd will be present.

Leigh boss Geoff Lutley may have new signings Steven Skinner and Ryan Clarke at his disposal for Saturday's encounter after they were signed too late to be registered in time to make their debut against Scarborough, although Lutley may be anxious not to change a winning team. Both Clarke and Skinner may get a place on the substitutes bench though after Leigh once again failed to fill their full quota of five substitutes, with only three players taking their places on the bench on Tuesday night.

With striker Karl Rose set to be missing for a fairly lengthy period of time as he awaits surgery on his ankle injury, it provides a timely return for Chris Simm in what is probably going to be a like-for-like replacement after Simm missed Tuesday's draw.

Former RMI goalkeeper Paul Crichton could be in line to make a rapid return to Hilton Park after he missed the defeat to Carlisle because of a virus following his transfer to Lancashire rivals Stanley in the aftermath of Phil Starbuck's departure as Leigh manager.

Youngster Danny Alcock is once again standing by for the visitors in case of injuries, with doubt hanging over the availability of experienced defender Mike Flynn, while former Manchester City and Wigan Athletic midfielder Ged Brannan has an Achilles problem.