Half-back Ferris, out for up to three months with a fractured cheekbone, told the club he had been unable to settle in Leigh and wanted to tear up his contract and return to Sydney.

It's a massive blow for the winless Centurions who had pinned a lot of their hopes of Ferris' vast NRL experience in guiding them through their first season in Super League.

But Ferris has only managed four of Leigh's six games. He damaged a knee against Salford and missed the game at Wakefield, then fractured his cheekbone on his return against Bradford.

His sudden departure leaves a vacancy in Leigh's overseas quota and the club will now look for a replacement.

Before he too tunned the club and resigned, executive director Derek Beaumont said: "It's a blow to lose someone's of Jason's experience, particularly the position we find ourselves in.

"Jason wasn't happy with his form, he was missing his family back in Australia and when the cheekbone injury came along I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"He began to doubt himself and question whether he had it in him to play at this level. Rather than hang around knowing his heart wasn't in it, he approached the Board and asked to be released from his contract. Knowing how unsettled he was, it was in the club's and player's best interests to terminate things immediately."

Mr Beaumont has also put the record straight regarding Dom Feaunati's injury which is now likely to keep the Samoan winger out of action until the end of April.

"We knew when we signed Dom that he had a slight groin problem which would keep him out for a week or two. He was able to train so we thought it best to bring him in so he could learn the calls, learn the moves and generally settle in with the players.

"But the injury has worsened. Medical advice is that he has a hernia operation now so that he's completely fit for the end of April. His contract only starts when he is 100 per cent so there's no financial liability on the club at the moment. There is also a clause in his contract which states that if the injury develops into a long-term one, he can be released.

"We've not signed a crock. Dom will be a huge asset for us when he's fully recovered."

Leigh face probably their most important game of the season so far tomorrow (Friday) when they travel to fellow strugglers Widnes, kick off 12.45pm.

The Vikings, with only one win, are reeling after a hammering in London last Sunday and coach Frank Endacott has described tomorrw's basement battle as a Test match'.

The Centurions will need to put all the off-field distractions behind them and fine some sort of form if they are the break their Super League duck.

Neil Turley and Steve McCurrie return to the 20-man squad after injury.

Gary Connolly has been named in the Widnes squad even though he has a thumb injury while centre Adam Hughes returns after a hamstring strain. Playmaker Owen Craigie is also back after missing the London defeat.

Leigh's squad is: Cooper, Duffy, Fleary, Govin, Jackson, Jones, Kent, Wilkes, Leafa, Maden, Marshall, McCurrie, Rowley, Smyth, Stapleton, Sturm, Turley, Wilshere, Knott and Moore.

The Centurions have decided not to move the Leeds home fixture to Sunday, May 15. It remains on Friday, May 13 with an 8pm kick off.

Leigh, with six defeats on the bounce, would draw enormous encouragement from a victory at the Halton Stadium especially with third-placed London Broncos visiting Hilton Park on Easter Monday, kick off 6pm.

The Hilton Park ticket office is open until 5pm tonight (Thursday), closed all day tomorrow, open 9am-12noon on Saturday and from 4pm-6pm on Monday.