LEIGH Centurions are planning to run with a 20-man full-time squad in next season's National League One campaign.

Bosses at Hilton Park have decided that the cost of running a complete full-time squad is unsustainable due to lower gate receipts and expected reductions to other income streams.

So next season they will go with a base of around 20 full time players, topped up with six or seven players who will train on a part-time basis.

"It's not ideal," admits football director Steve Grainey. "In an ideal world we'd have loved to have given coach Tony Benson a completely full-time squad, but under the budgets we've got to work to this year, that's not going to be possible."

"We've got some real quality young players lined up for the Under-21s and Under-18s for next season and some of those will be used to supplement the first team squad."

The Centurions have 10 players already signed up on full-time deals and offers are out to five more. Leigh expect yes' or no' decisions from them before this weekend.

Four of those who have been offered deals for next season are Scott Grix, Lee Greenwood, Dean Gaskell and Tere Glassie.