THE last link with former club Horwich RMI was broken this week with the launch of Leigh Genesis FC.

Formerly Leigh RMI, the club have announced the new name to coincide with a move this summer from Hilton Park to the 12,000-capacity stadium at the Leigh Sports Village.

The UniBond Premier League outfit, originally known as Horwich RMI when founded in 1896, sold its Grundy Hill ground and made the controversial move to Hilton Park in 1995, changing its name to Leigh RMI.

But now the traditional link with the past has been broken.

Driving force behind the changes is chairman and owner Dominic Speakman, who said the club needed a revamp.

"Since becoming chairman in January, there has been almost constant feedback about how the club and name has never really been adopted by the people of Leigh and that the name has little relevance to the town," said the ambitious 32-year-old.

"With the imminent move to the new stadium, it was a perfect opportunity to relaunch the club as a new brand for the people of Leigh.

"I was keen to find a name for the club that was modern, short and also unique."

The club, who were relegated from the Conference North last season, will also be playing in new colours next season.

They have ditched their traditional red, white and black kit and replaced it with a white and black home strip and all blue on their travels.

They have been active in the transfer market with manager Steve Bleasdale already making 12 new signings ahead of the new season.

Leigh will be the only professional club in Europe to carry its team name across their shirts.

After long negotiation with the Football Association, Leigh Genesis have been given permission to make the ground-breaking step.

Speakman added: "We took the positive decision not to carry any sponsorship on the front of the shirt this season but instead, replacing it with our totally original Genesis name.

"This decision has enabled us to be unique in the football world. As far as we are aware we will be the only professional club in Europe to have it's club name across the front of the shirt.

"For these reasons we are led to believe that this distinctive shirt will almost certainly become a collector's item."