PHIL Starbuck faces a hectic time trying to bring in more new faces before Thursday's transfer deadline.

His Leigh RMI side are next to bottom of the Nationwide Conference and staring relegation in the face, but with seven games remaining have a chance to go above Farnborough if they can string a couple of wins together.

With the Conference future of Margate in the balance because they do not yet have a ground for next season, the team that finishes third from bottom may escape the drop. The Railwaymen are clinging to that hope and the RMI boss is trying to bring in a couple of players for the run-in.

"I will be looking to bring in one, maybe two players before the deadline," he said. "I am working hard to bring in players at the right price. It has been a mad two weeks. I have spoken to nearly every manager in the league."

The Conference have dropped plans to deduct 12 points from Exeter City, Leigh's opponents on Saturday.

Exeter had been threatened with the punishment after going into administration earlier this season.

The decision, which ends a five-month dispute over the club's financial arrangements, leaves the play-off hopefuls free to concentrate on a parallel case with the Inland Revenue, which could have huge implications for professional clubs who go into administration.