CONTROVERSIAL moves to merge the Leigh Amateur Football League with a neighbouring league in Wigan look set to go ahead despite protests from local clubs.

The league, which has played host to open age amateur football in Leigh for 100 years, is 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.

Malcolm Blakeley, the secretary of the Leigh Amateur League, said that dwindling team numbers had made the existing competition stale -- and merging was the only way to move forward.

But one manager, who wished to remain anonymous said he was disgusted by the league committee's decision to merge with their Wigan counterparts.

He said: "We need to get some local support to keep the league in Leigh. There are 12 teams and if the committee doesn't want to run it anymore they should get someone who does.

"I am really upset that they voted to join with Wigan next season. It is the end of 100 years of history and a disgrace to local football. What they are doing is wrong, we need to keep football in Leigh.

"The lads just want to play the game but they are going to be travelling miles for a match as a result."

But Mr Blakeley said: "The league had become stale. We had 13 teams in two divisions, and teams were playing each other so many times in a season. We've had lengthy discussions with member clubs and we were open with them from the start.

"The member clubs are happy with the merger because they've got new teams to play. We're quite looking forward to next season because there will be four divisions in the Wigan League and it proves to be an exciting competition.

"The new league will go ahead and we are just in the process of selecting a new committee."

Any teams wishing to join the new league can contact Malcolm Blakeley on 01942 706011.