TODAY is landmark day in the history of Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club.

Centurions have formally announced a complete new management structure.

Major long term investment has been committed by a number of passionate new investors who have come forward with not only significant on-going financial contributions, but also pledges of their professional time and effort which will allow the club to move forward with great ambition.

Running the club on a day to day basis will be the Main Board of Management who will have full control of the company and responsibility for managing the Centurions, developing new strategies, and re-engaging the Centurions with the town, community and wider areas.

Chairman KLeith Freer said: "The business skills and winning capabilities of the new team are enormous and any successful business would be “proud” to have this team in place."

The Board of Management comprises John Roddy, Michael Norris, Derek Beaumont, Paul Wingfield, Andy Mazey, Alan Platt, Steve Openshaw, Neil Wilcock and Jackie Mottershead.

The skills within the new team vary from Chief Executives, Managing Directors, Operations and Sales Directors within successful UK and regional businesses.

In addition, there will be a regulatory/supervisory Board, comprising of Keith Freer as chairman, John Roddy as vice chairman, and Allan Mazey as operations director.

Freer said: "The whole management team are passionate individuals fully committed to devoting the appropriate amount of time, effort and resources required to not only secure the future of the Centurions but drive this great club into an exciting new era.

"We all share the same passion and desires and all are willing to invest our time and money to achieve the ultimate vision which is Super League.

"To ensure success we need to secure and develop a sustainable club that is accountable to the whole community, which embraces the whole community, and delivers rugby league to the community in our great community stadium Leigh Sports Village."

Freer said they are also assisted by other investors who have pledged financial support but are unable, due to their time commitments, to be part of the management team.

He also explained that as part of the strategic plans for the club, the business will be divided into five departments - Player welfare and coaching; Finance; Community; Communications; Commercial/operations.

In each department there will be two to three representatives of Board of Management and they will take responsibility for that department.

For player welfare and coaching will be Derek Beaumont and Steve Openshaw.

Finance will be Mike Norris.

For the Community Department will be Andy Mazey, Alan Platt, Steve Openshaw, Paul Wingfield and Miranda Barker, who is the Trustee of the Leigh Centurions Community Foundation.

It is hoped and anticipated that supporters' group LISA and some of the trustees for the lottery will take an active role in supporting the Community Department.

For Communications it will be John Roddy, Jackie Mottershead, Allan Mazey and Andy Mazey.

Alan Edge, who produces the match day programmes, will also form part of that management team.

For Commercial/Operations it will be Mike Norris, Paul Wingfield, Neil Wilcock and John Roddy.

Freer added: "Each of those departments will be structured to include support groups who have provided invaluable support over the past two years in moving the club forward to where we are today.

"The ambition and vision going forward is to transform every facet of our club to become the very best it can be and to build a model which will be the envy of RL clubs up and down the country.

"There will be many out there who have great ideas and aspirations and by publicly stating which members are taking responsibility for which area of the club, it is hoped that those individuals who want to offer support and assistance will continue to do so and new members and new supporters will come forward to assist the evolution of the Club to Super League status.

"It is a new and exciting time for the Club and the time is right to launch this new Board.

"There are changes currently across rugby league, you will be aware of the policy review being undertaken by the RFL which should bring back promotion and relegation which is something that we in the Championship have been asking to be re-introduced due to the failure of the licensing system.

"We beLEIGHve’ the time is now for everyone to come together, to get behind Leigh Centurions as we move our Club into Super League."