DEFLATED and disheartened from FA Cup failure, Leigh RMI return to league action this weekend in the knowledge that it could be worse...they could be Kettering Town.

The Northamptonshire-based side travel to Hilton Park for a real relegation six-pointer on Saturday having suffered setbacks and soap operas within the confines of Rockingham Road that makes life at Leigh seem a walk in the proverbial park.

Town are rock bottom of the Conference with just 10 points from their first 16 outings including a paltry return of two victories after yo-yoing back and forth from the Dr Martens League in the past few years.

They will empathise with the Railwaymen too as they were also dumped out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition - reaching a replay before Hastings provided the upset in front of the Poppies' home fans. To rub salt ino the wounds, Kettering were put up for sale just three weeks ago.

Leigh will need to get back into the groove after the rigours of cup football and were on a good run before last weekend's setback at Moor Green.

Comfortable with his side's home form this season, manager Steve Waywell is confident going into the game and the upside of the cup exit during the summer months is the lack of distractions from bread and butter football.

Fans of the club are also standing by them in their hour of greatest need. They will be running a stand in the Spinning Jenny Centre on Saturday morning to attract fans to a ground where people are becoming increasingly disillusioned.

As fan numbers start to recede, so do those of the playing staff. Chris Ward - hailed as the striking answer to all Leigh problems on his arrival from Barrow just five weeks ago - has left Hilton Park for Third Division Lincoln City despite being dropped from the RMI first team.

Yet the remainder of the squad soldier on to an important month ahead that has suddenly become packed with fixtures. With no FA Cup tie on November 16, Leigh now bring forward their league visit to Barnet and they face home cup ties on the Tuesday either side of that critical game.

Wrexham are the visitors in the LDV Trophy on the 12th, with Radcliffe Borough hitting town in the Lancashire Trophy the following week.