LEIGH RMI star Dave Ridings has given the club another boost by re-signing for the Railwaymen.

His four-year commitment to the club quickly follows on the heels of goalkeeper Dave Felgate, who signed a contract for the same period only last week.

It was thought that Ridings would move on during the close season to a Conference club and indeed was offered a better contract than Leigh could meet.

But chairman Chris Healey and manager Steve Waywell are determined to hang on to the players who have brought the club success over the last two years.

Ridings explained: "I have had better offers both standard-wise and money-wise - but what I want to do is to take Leigh into the Conference.

"We just missed out last season and with a little bit more strengthening we will be a force to be reckoned with, especially with Dave Felgate re-signing and hopefully the rest of the squad staying together.

"We had a great team spirit last season and I want to be part of it again. Chris Healey has done a lot for me and in signing for four years indicates how much I appreciate it."

There were rumours that the side was on the point of breaking up but when Healey returned from holiday he moved swiftly to nip the stories in the bud.

"The players feel there is great potential at Leigh and they want to be part of it as well as showing loyalty to the chairman, who is also determined to go on to achieve greater success," said Waywell.

"The two signings of Felgate and Ridings show that we mean business and we or not about to break up as some people expected. We are an ambitious club from the chairman down.'

Meanwhile Waywell is still continuing the search to add to his squad and is in negotiations with a couple of players with his hand no doubt strengthened with the signatures of Felgate and Ridings.

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