LEIGH'S groundsman faced an earbashing from RMI boss Mark Patterson over the state of the Hilton Park playing surface.

Since the Railwaymen moved to Leigh, the pitch has come in for severe criticism from managers and players alike and Patterson was unhappy with its condition for Saturday's Conference clash with Halifax Town.

He fumed: "The pitch is bobbly, bumpy and dry and nobody is bothered about it. The groundstaff didn't even have the decency to cut it for us before the game. It was like a field and it is not good enough.

" I will be having a word with the head groundsman this week and the stadium manager and I will be asking questions why is it not looked after, because that is just not good enough. The penalty area is an absolute joke. It is like the bottom of a dry river bed. If you try and run with the ball you can't do it."

One possible explanation for the length of the grass could be that Leigh Centurions were playing the next day and the rugby team prefer the grass longer than the footballers.

Patterson has had to turn his attentions elsewhere after Ashton United winger Steve Smith signed a contract for his club. Leigh put seven days notice on Ashon to sign the player but his decision not to step up a division left the RMI boss very disappointed.