LIFE'S a gas for a group of Leigh Centurions' fans. The newly-formed Leigh Independent Supporters Association (LISA) have struck a sponsorship deal with British Gas that could be worth as much as £200,000.

Although the final details have still to be hammered out with British Gas bosses, LISA organiser Neil Wilcock describes the deal as a 'potential goldmine'.

LISA, set up to raise funds to help with the recruitment of new players, will make all the sponsorship money available to coach Ian Millward.

Says Mr Wilcock: "We can't give too many details at the moment until all the paperwork is done but potentially the deal could be worth as much as £200,000. All the money will go into LISA funds for the coach to use on new players." Although LISA was only officially launched last night, the fans' group has already raised £8,500 with the promise of much more to come.

And former Leigh legend Alex Murphy has thrown his weight behind the fans' initiative.

Murphy says: "I would dearly love to see Leigh back on the rugby league map, but only the supporters can do that.

"This club doesn't have a sugar-daddy like Dave Whelan at Wigan; it's down to the people of the town to rally round and get the club back up where it belongs. "It's a fact of life that you need money to compete at the highest level today; you need the best players and the best facilities. That's why I'm supporting LISA - I see it as the way forward.

"This club has some of the best supporters anywhere in the world, but they've lost that little bit of pride. This scheme can help restore some lost pride by putting a winning and successful team out on the pitch.

"It would give me tremendous personal pleasure to see Leigh march back up the league."

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