LEIGH Centurions head coach Ian Millward has urged the town not to let the club’s good work go to ruin.

His rallying cry comes on the back of a second jolt to the club’s behind – the-scenes operation.

Not only have Leigh Centurions got to come to terms with the loss of major benefactor and chairman Arthur Thomas from two weeks ago, they are now also in the hunt for a chief executive after Allan Rowley announced this week that he had left the club.

Seconded to the Centurions by Thomas, Rowley had been operating in the role of chief executive for several years and also oversaw Leigh’s unsuccessful bid for a Super League Licence in 2007.

Rowley hinted that better times do lie ahead for the club, who are still unbeaten in the Championship having only lost one point from a possible 30, and also shed further light on Thomas’ decision to cease his backing of Leigh.

“It is with great regret that as from Friday the 27th May I have left my post as chief executive officer of Leigh Centurions,” Rowley said.

“Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond the control of former chairman Arthur Thomas, his businesses Concrete TS Ltd and AWT Painters ceased to trade and I along with other employees, who include both his sons Darren and Andrew, became redundant.

“My initial thoughts go out to Arthur and his wife Sylvia who started the company 30 odd years ago and it was a sad day last Friday when Arthur met everyone personally to explain the situation. As Concrete TS was my employer and I was seconded to Leigh Centurions it has left the club short of a chief executive.

“In the next few weeks there will be some exciting announcements for the club with a link-up with Wigan and Leigh College and the Centurions running an under 18s team, and the launch of a junior supporters club backed by a national supermarket chain.”

Millward, while admitting that he had not previously been involved at a club with so much happening behind the scenes, is keeping the team firmly focused on the job in hand but wants the town to increase backing for the club.

“Everyone keeps saying about how well the team are playing and the style they are showing,” he said.

“We need more people on board. I’m not just talking about through the turnstiles but also more people on the club lottery, backing the Leigh Independant Supporters Association or getting involved with the Corporate Club.

“There are good things around the corner but we need everyone to back it if the club is to progress. The foundations Arthur and Allan have put in place must not be allowed to crumble."

Centurions host Halifax at the Leigh Sports Village tonight, Thursday, kick off 7.30pm, and Millward anticipates a tough encounter.

He said: “Halifax won the competition last year.

“They are used to winning, they won their last game and they’ve got a lot of speed. They’ll be hard to beat.

“It’s a massive game for us. It gives a chance to keep on track with where we want to go.

“With all that has gone on behind the scenes it is also important that we get big support.”

Missing for Centurions will be Warrington Wolves dual registration player Rhys Evans, who went in for a hand operation on Tuesday.

“He’ll be out for six weeks,” Millward said and added that hookers John Duffy and Mick Govin have leg injuries.

It will give another chance for youngster Anthony Nicholson to stake a claim.

“He played at the weekend and he’s been in the first team before – he’ll be alright,” said Millward.