LAPSED rugby league players have been urged to pull on their boots again to help Bolton's only senior club survive.

Bolton Mets are on the verge of disbanding due to a crippling player shortage.

They are surviving with the bare bones of a team which is in stark contrast to their success on the field.

Now new player-coach Chris Brown is calling on players who have given up the game in the last few years to help them to continue flying the rugby league flag in Bolton.

The Mets should be on a high after two back to back promotions have left them playing at a high regional level.

But they believe they could have become victims of their own success as their struggle to acclimatise in the North West Counties League Division Four has resulted in several heavy defeats and many players becoming disheartened and leaving the club. Every week they have to scramble round to make up a team and last week's experience of having a full 13 and just one substitute has become a regular occurrence.

Ironically they have produced their best rugby league of the season since Christmas and believe that with a bit more competition and quality in the squad they could have turned some of their recent narrow defeats into victories.

They are convinced there is plenty of interest in rugby league in the town and they are determined to tap into it.

Chris Brown, who was forced into the role of coach when Rick Brooks stood down two months ago because he was the only one with coaching qualifications, said: "I can't believe that in a town of 250,000 people there are just 14 who are interested in playing rugby league.

"That is just mad and I know it isn't true. There is a lot of interest out there, it is just a question of finding them.

"I used to play with plenty of people at school, town and county level and it's time those people got back to playing again.

"Also there were 15 kids from Withins School training with us in the summer and we haven't seen any of them since.

"They will be 17 now and would be ideal for us. They would be the future of Bolton Mets.

"There must be players who used to play for the Westhoughton and Bolton teams which disbanded and who would want to play with us. We would love to hear from them.

"I wouldn't bother if I didn't think there was any interest in rugby league out there. But I know there is because I bump into so many people who talk about it.

"It's time people stopped talking and thinking about playing and came down and joined our set-up."

Anyone interested in joining Bolton Mets can contact Chris on Bolton 457948 or attend training on Thursday evenings on the all weather pitch at the back of Withins School in Breightmet.