STRUGGLING Leigh RMI have re-appointed Steve Bleasdale as manager to replace Stuart Humphreys.

Bleasdale was in charge in the final weeks of the 2005 season when the Railwaymen were relegated from the Conference, but then left to join up with Mark Wright at Peterborough.

Humphreys and his assistant Andy Roscoe were given the sack after a disastrous start to the season. The club is sitting perilously close to the relegation zone and exited the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the first hurdle.

Humphreys said that after more than two seasons in charge he was disappointed to leave the club and the way it ended.

He said: "I was told to sack my assistant and they knew I was not going to do that. I would like to think that I have a done a fantastic job with limited resources and a fundamental lack of support from the club's committee."

RMI spokesman, Stan Walker, said: "The club was very reluctant to take this decision, but faced with the fact of the current low league position and falling gates something had to be done rapidly to improve our prospects.

"This is a crucial time for the club; with negotiations on occupancy of the new stadium in progress and a number of investors showing interest we simply have to improve our league position. The management committee could not see any signs of this happening with Stuart and Andy at the helm and therefore were forced to take this action."