THEIR pre-season training already well underway, Leigh RMI boss Mark Patterson has pulled off a major coup by re-signing central defender Martyn Lancaster on a one-year deal.

Lancaster was one of Patterson's immediate recruits on putting pen to paper as RMI boss back in January, and the former coping stone of the Chester City defence was influential for the Railwaymen as they secured a fourth term in the Conference.

His season was curtailed by three matches after a sending-off at Stevenage culminated in a ban, but he decided to stay at Hilton Park to the delight of his manager:

"Martyn had offers elsewhere", admitted Patterson, "and some of them were with full-time clubs, but he enjoyed his time with us at the end of last season and I'm really pleased that was enough for him to stay.

"He had a great part to play in the improvement of our defensive record and is a major part of our plans for next season. The partnership and understanding that he built up with Neil Durkin was impressive and I'm looking forward to that continuing."

Despite the kitty being slightly emptier than last season, Patterson has managed to retain the spine of his side and even to build upon it.

One player certain to get a warm welcome on returning to his former club is striker Marcus Hallows - the man discarded by Steve Waywell 12 months ago - who returns to the front-line after an injury-hit campaign with Stalybridge Celtic in the Unibond League.

Hallows was a crowd favourite on spending time with the club in 2001-2, netting 10 times alongside Michael Twiss and Dino Maamria.

Strike partnership

But the success of the latter two as a strike partnership often denied him the opportunity to show his full potential, and he too ended his season disappointingly with a red card at Broadhall Way.

"You know what you'll get with Marcus", enthused Patterson. "We did have a lack of ability up front at times last season, but Marcus has a big heart and plenty of determination and I'm very pleased to have him back."

Meanwhile Patterson has challenged RMI midfielder Ged Kielty to stay at RMI and fight for a place in the first team.

Kielty didn't figure prominently in the last three months of the season and it was anticipated that his substitute cameo role in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy success against Kendal Town would be his swansong.

The man who notched up seven goals from the centre of the park in the opening 10 weeks of last season has now been told that the door is open for a progression of life at Hilton Park if he wants to stay.

"The ball is in Ged's court now", admits Patterson. "He has 12 months left on his contract so I would obviously like him to prove to me that he wants to play for Leigh."

Otherwise, he'll be trekking around the country sitting on the bench and that won't do anybody any good because neither of us would be happy."