LEIGH RMI Youth Development Officer Jim Conway has wasted no time since his appointment at the beginning of April.

The Hilton Park club took the ambitious step of creating a full-time position and are already reaping the benefit.

Mr Conway has immediate plans to develop soccer in all aspects of the community, in particular with local schools and the unemployed. One unemployed youngster has been receiving twice weekly coaching sessions.

Twenty years old Andy Furnival from Culcheth is a promising young keeper and recently he has been honing his skills under the expert eye of one of the best in the business. Jim spent 13 years with Bolton Wanderers after a playing career that included Celtic and Norwich.

Says Jim: "There is an excellent youth regime at RMI. We have first class managers and I will be looking to work alongside them wherever they may need it, but they can rest assured there will be no interference. My aim is to produce a steady production line of young local players who will eventually take their place in our first team.

"We are looking to get our Reserve team in a strong competitive league next season and approaches have already been made to the Mid Cheshire League. It is vital that our second team is playing in a quality level.

"I will also be looking for the club to enter the Under 18s in next season's FA and Lancashire FA Youth Cups to compete against, and hold our own with, the best the pro clubs can turn out. We already have two local lads on the verge of becoming first team regulars in Scott Dowd and Stuart Malley and hopefully these lads will be the first of many."

Over the next three months, Jim will be running summer coaching schools. This will provide an opportunity for all local youngsters, not just those lucky enough to be already registered with RMI teams.

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