LEIGH RMI are upbeat about their chances of starting next season in the Conference.

The Railwaymen were relegated after they finished next to bottom, but have a good chance of earning a reprieve because Margate are having difficulties getting their ground up to Conference standard.

The Kent club ground-shared with Dover for most of last season - a situation the Conference will not tolerate any longer - and with plans stalled to improve the Hartsdown Park ground, Leigh are in a strong position to start a fifth season in the Conference.

Chairman William Taylor says RMI just have to be patient.

"We are optimistic our future will be in the Conference," he said. "We have had encouraging support from other Conference clubs, but we will just have to wait until the deadline at the end of the month."

Whichever league the Railwaymen play in next season, it is going to be tough financially, and the pressure is on manager Phil Starbuck to deliver.

Taylor added: "We have given Phil our support to carry on. He knows he will not have any more money to spend, but believes he can build a much better squad with the same amount of money.

"We have to work hard to boost our finances. We already have friendlies arranged against Leeds, Everton and Wigan and are hopeful of a major sponsorship deal. If we can get a good start to the season it will set us up nicely."

The uncertainty as to which league Leigh will start in next season has been frustrating for Starbuck's team-building plans. He is still waiting to see if David McNiven and Gareth Holmes accept new contracts, while the futures of Wayne Maden and Neil Durkin are uncertain. Maden is waiting to see if he has passed an entrance exam to a college in the United States, while Durkin is suffering from a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in an accident.

Gary Kelly, who has been appointed assistant manager, has to have another operation on a hand injury, but is expected to be fit for the start of the new season. He will be RMI's number one keeper despite a good season from Australian understudy Ian Martin.