LEIGH RMI have parted company with joint manager Brian Hart and coach Ray Silous in a backroom reshuffle.

Steve Waywell has been put in sole charge and has brought in Kevin Booth as his assistant.

Hart's father Brian, has also resigned as secretary.

Hart junior took over the reins when Mick Holgate was dismissed last Christmas but were relegated from the Unibond Premier Division. Waywell was then brought in to form a joint managerial partnership but with only two league wins out of 13 games this term they languish second from bottom in division one.

RMI chairman Chris Healey said: "It is quite clear that a joint managerial situation is not ideal. The management committee gave Brian a chance last season and it didn't work out, now we are giving Steve Waywell his opportunity and we will monitor the situation very closely.

"The club would like to thank him for his hard work and industry and are also grateful for the work his father has done over the last four years as secretary and are disappointed he was unable to stay on."

Waywell said that any one of the management and coaching staff could have gone because the joint partnership wasn't working. "I'm very upset that Brian's gone, it could have been any of us but I knew we had to do something about ourselves before we sorted out the playing side.

"I am sorry to see Ray go as well because we have been together a long time, but I've brought in Kevin Booth and he will play as well as being my assistant.

The former boss admitted that the results hadn't helped his cause but was surprised that both he and Waywell hadn't been dismissed.

"I'm very disappointed with certain individuals but there's no mileage in mud slinging. Although it would have been easier to accept if both of us had been sacked only time will tell to see what differences there are," he said.

Silous was reluctant to make any comments about the decision. "I have only had a brief chat with Steve, so at the moment I can't say too much as I haven't had all the details."

Hart Snr said he was 100 per cent behind the club and would have stayed on if they had appointed another manager. "I have no axe to grind with the club but I feel I can't work with the new manager. They were joint managers and if one goes then they both should go," he said.

RMI travel to Bradford Park Avenue tomorrow and with Barry Diamond and Jimmy Birch returning to full fitness Waywell will have a full squad to select from with Booth making his debut.

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