LEIGH have made another key appointment to their backroom staff in Australian fitness coach Nigel Ashley-Jones.

The highly-rated conditioner has spent the last few years with the Perth Western Reds side in Australia and comes on the recommendation of John Dorahy, the new Warrington boss, who was general manager at the Reds.

Ashley-Jones paid his own air fare to England in the hope of working with a British club. He approached Leigh a couple of weeks ago and has made such an impression that he's been taken on until the end of the season.

His position will be unaffected by this week's coaching upheaval at Hilton Park.

Meanwhile, three Leigh players go into hospital next Tuesday for exploratory knee operations.

Prop Ged Stazicker and scrum half Chris Wilkinson have struggled for some weeks with persistent knee problems while loose forward Glynn Davies hasn't figured so far this season after being hurt in a pre-season friendly at Warrington.

Last season's top try scorer Andy Cheetham has the plaster removed from his broken thumb this week and hopes to get clearance to resume full training when he visits a specialist after the weekend.

Loan star Dave Lyon should be fit for Leigh's next game, the home clash with South Wales on May 5, after being carried off with a badly bruised knee last Sunday.

Leigh have a number of £22 and £27 Wembley tickets still available. For further details contact Allan Rowley on 01942 743743.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.