LONG-SERVING Leigh RMI striker Neil Matthews has been released.

Matthews, a survivor from RMI's UniBond days, has found it increasingly difficult to break into the first team on a regular basis.

With manager Steve Waywell having to move players out before he can bring new faces in, Matthews was the first casualty. Waywell is hoping to have at least one newcomer in at Hilton Park before RMI get back down to Conference action against Nuneaton.

The Leigh boss has served seven days notice on Hyde left back Paul Robertson and is in talks with Winsford striker Troy Hader.

Saturday's home clash with Nuneaton will be their first game for 12 days - a break that only added to Waywell's frustration.

"We really wanted a match before playing Nuneaton to help ease things a little later in the year when we have eight games in March and nine in April. With a squad of only about 17, it leaves us stretched," he says.

Consolidating Leigh's Conference status remains the top priority. At the start of the season they were clear favourites for relegation, but are happily cemented in the top half and with more than two months of the season still to play, they only need another 10 points to be safe from relegation.

RMI have picked a third sponsorship deal from the United States in as many weeks.

Nicky Spooner's old club Charleston Battery's offered to sponsor the defender's kit and long-time supporter and ex-Committee man Peter Murphy, who now works in the States, has done the same for Ged Murphy.

In an e-mail message, Charleston Battery say: " Nicky was a tireless servant of the club for the last two years and will be sorely missed. We feel this is the least we can do for him and we certainly wish him well in all his future adventures."

Now another American company has done a similar deal.

Tom Knackstedt, the President of Partners in Plastic, a business contact of Peter Murphy's, is to sponsor Steve Jones' kit.