LEADING local amateur RL side Leigh East have appointed Wigan St Patrick's stalwart Jimmy Taylor as their new first team coach.

Taylor ended his 32 years alliance as player and coach with East's neighbours and National Conference Premier rivals St Pat's, moving across the Borough to head East's young and ambitious side.

The Grasmere Street side made the appointment just a few weeks after coaches Steve Grimshaw and David Kay decided to stand down.

Taylor said: "Obviously leaving St Pat's was a wrench after 32 years unbroken service. But I felt it was time for a change and when the East job came up it was too good an opportunity to miss. I was thrilled to be appointed and although a little apprehensive I realise just how much potential there is at East. I am really looking forward to working with the squad and getting cracking on the new season."

A spokesman for East said: "Appointing Jim Taylor was a major coup for us. We had some quality applications for the job and one proposed coaching partnership ran Taylor close.

"However Jim has a wealth of coaching experience, not only at St Pat's but also through his current duties as Lancashire Open Age and Great Britain Under 21s coach. He knows the amateur game inside out and we felt he was the ideal candidate to carry on the superb work already done by out going coaches Steve Grimshaw and David Kay.

"Any players, old or new, who want to benefit from Jim's coaching expertise and who have not yet started pre-season training are reminded that open age training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7pm."