THE family of a rugby fan who died suddenly are upset over the fate of permanent tributes to him when Leigh Centurions move to a new ground.

And while the family of 31-year-old Paul Bent have been involved in a five-year dispute with the club to correct spelling mistakes in the 20 memorial bricks to him, they say the way the commemorative wall has been maintained at Hilton Park is a disgrace.

The memorial scheme was seen as a way of paying tribute to loved ones, as well as raising vital cash for the club.

But Paul's brother, Darren, and mum, Carole, want to know what will happen to the Mick Martyn bar memorial when the club moves to the new Sports Village at Pennington.

They say they have contacted everyone who is anyone at the club, and Leigh MP Andy Burnham, but have not been given satisfactory answers.

Darren, of Ashbourne Close, Leigh, one of the early members of the club's Independent Supporters' Association, said: "Paul died suddenly in 1999 and we thought bricks at the club would be a suitable memorial as we were both big fans.

"We were told the bricks would be at the entrance to the bar but they are at the back near the fire escape. They are in the wrong place and have one-arm bandits, chairs and tables pushed in front of them.

"The bricks are shoddy and pathetic. We want them put in the right position and the spelling mistakes put right. We would also appreciate a reply to our letters asking what will happen to the walls when the club is demolished."

Carole, of Abbey Lane, Leigh, said: "Bob the Builder could have done better. We have suffered stress all this time and would really like some answers."

Leigh MP Andy Burnham said he had been in touch with the club asking them to speak to the developers to ensure that families who have bought bricks on the site will have a fitting memorial on the new site.

He has also written to sports village developer Greenbank Partnerships to ask if it will look at providing a commemorative area in their plans for the new stadium.

The club's general manager Mike Callaghan said the situation was unfortunate but the wall was never planned as a commemorative wall in the first place. He said it was a cash-generating idea of previous incumbents for fans to have their names put on it.

He said: "I have spoken to the family about the situation and don't know why the issue has come up again. I have no records at the club and believe the company that did the wall has gone bust.

"The new stadium is still a bit away and we will not be the only clubs in there, but the matter will be flagged up. We will look a more permanent tribute perhaps in the form of a named walkway or a commemorative plaque bearing all the names on the wall. I can't give answers at the moment. In the meantime, there will be no changes in the bar."