When is a good time to retire,when you've had enough and cut your losses or you have done a great job and leaving on a sound footing and most things are in good shape.I'm hoping its the latter and Arthur has done as much as he can and now wants to sit back and watch someone or some others take up the mantle.

You cannnot rely on just one person and this day was going to come, so I for one am not worried and getting paranoid about the reasons why he's retiring.If Arthur did loan Saints as much money as been rumoured he may of been paid off as a result of the sale of Knowsley Road and decided he wants to relax and enjoy his well earned money.I'm sure he will still be a great benefactor to the club just not one of its main sources of income.

What will be will be as Leigh fans you should know when things are going well their is always something ready to bring us back down to earth but I'm not thinking Arthurs decision is as earth shattering as some on here will.

Good luck Arthur ad thanks for all that have done and I'm sure will keep on doing for my club.

I know Mr Gartside the chairman of Bolton is a leythers isn't he, and he has taken in more than the odd game at the LSV this season...

Thank You Arthur

You've sorted the mess out and deserve a more relaxed life in the coming years.

The future depends on what happens to the money AT has thrown in, is it in Directors loans that can be drawn in forcing the club into administration? or has it simply been 'invested' never to be seen again.

I hope AT stays close to the club, but hope we can move on in the key areas we need to reach our true potential.

This is a shock,
but I simply want to say on this thread a big thankyou to Arthur Thomas for everything he has done for our club.

Thankyou Sir !

I trust that he has not left us in a bind and I will not get involved in speculation and rumour on here. I will simply await official news from the club.

Thanks Arthur for all you have done for the club and enjoy your retirement

Not sure what to make of this news at all.....
Thankyou Arthur for everything you have done for the club. Without you, we'd be seriously up sh*t creek already! This man put a lot of time, effort, and mainly a hell of a lot of money, And there's not a single person who can knock him for that.
Now I just hope we can find another investor to take the helm ASAP. I think our club is very investable at the moment. Playing the best rugby in years, full of local lads, new stadium, and a fantastic coach.
How good would it be to get a seriously big, wealthy investor (like the smogs/ salford for example)????
Just dreaming maybe? But i wish not



Above all though, I really hope we can keep Basil on. The man has worked this team into a completely unbeatable army. Maybe a new investor could tie down Millward, and the majority of our squad onto long term contracts??

All wishful thinking I know.........

I would like to thank Arthur for all he's done at Leigh and wish him and his family all the very best for the future, once again a big thankyou.

The problem here is that the statement has left us in a rather large information vacuum.

Arthur has left us in a much better position than when he joined. However, we all know its his money keeping the club afloat.

So what happens now?

Do we have someone ready to step in? Is Arthur funding us for a while longer? Do we have the money to even pay the players wages? Do we have the money to pay the LSV? Do we have any money at all.

I don't think that Arthur will have left us with wolves at the door, but the statement really doesn't make it clear what is happening or what might be coming next.

I'm very worried about the situation, but it might not be a problem.

I'd rather have read about a passing on of the reigns, not just that Arthur is leaving. That lack of information means that nobody (outside the inner circle) knows what is going on.

We need some reassurance from the club, and it should come tomorrow at the latest.

I appreciate what Arthur has done as does everyone else but the timing seems very strange to me. Why wouldn't he at least see the season out?

It's good to hear that he has left us in such a good position and perhaps he's already catered for us for the remainder of the season. I'm sure he's not the only person putting money in but it seems clear he has put a lot of his personal wealth into our club.

Hopefully the club will address the big issue of who is replacing him sooner rather than later and not allow this news to detract from what is happening on the field. For the first time in a number of years I am thoroughly enjoying watching us play and the people are slowly coming back. We cannot let this opportunity slip so hopefully someone as like minded as Arthur will take the gamble on our club.

It's one hell of a roller coaster from what the team did on the field yesterday (and has been doing all year), to this news today...

I wouldn't worry about paying for the LSV, that goes off gate receipts I believe.
Surely Arthur wouldn't leave us without someone else to take over, perhaps this has been on the cards a while whilst t's where crossed and i's dotted with the new man to take over?

That's what I'm hoping!

But why couldn't the news be announced at the same time?

Agreed Michael. But as a Leigh supporter we get used to this kind of thing. The silence is deafening at times in terms of assurances about anything from the club but you'd have thought that surely they have the common sense to realise that the supporters will want our questions addressed quickly so we can get on with the business on the field.

Maybe the new man wants to make a Grand Entrance at Sunday's game?

Feel free to add " in a " , " up a " , " without a " to my previous post on this thread

This could be fantastic news for the next phase in the life of our great club.
I believe AT will write off his debt and force existing loans to be written off from others. All Directors would go away. A new broom will come in and sweep away the deadwood in the staff and an exciting new future will be born on the back of Arthurs great foundations.
Time for a supporters trust, 'k' club, and new shareholders to lead the way.

Many thanks Arthur for all the time & effort you have put into Leigh RLFC !!!
I hope the team can win all on offer this season just for you mate you deserve it !

Well that's the rent paid now what about the wages and all the on going costs?

Exactly. Unless there's a surplus in gate receipts, what other significant means of income have we got?

This is the biggest shock since Alex Murphy walked out after our finest hour 40 yrs ago

WE need to fill the £150k pa hole it costs, and I believe we will do it easily if done correctly.

Oh f**K!!! Just as we start to build momentum both on the field and increased gates he pulls the plug.

Maybe he's 'pulled the plug' as you put it, or maybe simply retired, because the momentum that's been built, is leading to better times, or has attracted 'interested parties'?

Please let this be right.

One thing about Arthur hes a top bloke always very approachable and loves Rugby League
he will be missed and i hope to god that we have someone lined up has good has Arthur ....