PLANS to merge the Leigh Amateur Football League with a neighbouring league in Wigan have fallen through at the eleventh hour.

The league was set to merge with the Wigan Amateur Football League -- with the new competition planned to kick off later this year as the Wigan, Leigh and District League.

But Leigh Amateur League secretary Malcolm Blakeley said the league, which has played host to football in the area for 100 years -- would now continue -- and they were planning ahead for next season.

He told the Journal: ""It all seemed to be going ahead for the merger but it didn't work out at the end of the day, and we immediately decided to continue on our own. All our attention had now been turned to setting up for the new season. There is a strong committee in place and we have everything we need.

"We are one of the oldest leagues in the region and last season was our Centenary Year. We already have over a dozen teams but we still have vacancies."

Any eleven-a-side Saturday teams wishing to join the league can contact Malcolm on 01942 706011 or malcleighanddistrictafl@blueyonder.co.uk