MANAGER Steve Waywell has told Leigh RMI chiefs that they need a sense of direction if they are to retain their place in the Nationwide Conference writes Martyn Hindley

His side currently lie second from bottom after picking up just 10 points from 12 games, and the manager believes that strengthening the squad is the only way forward for the club.

"We can't run a Conference team on 15 players, it's as simple as that," said Waywell, who lost the services of star striker Tony Black to Accrington Stanley last week after he had spent three and a half years at Hilton Park.

"I'm always talking to players but I don't know what resources I have to sign them. We need to be paying Conference wages for quality players but we just can't do that, and if we don't do something soon then we will be heading for the UniBond League."

Leigh hope to drag themselves out of the relegation zone this weekend when they travel to Christie Park to take on Morecambe - which has been a happy hunting ground in years gone by. RMI have beaten the odds to take three points off the Shrimps in each of their last two visits to the coast, including a 3-1 hammering 12 months ago.

Leigh will have almost a full squad available as they attempt to end a run of seven away games without a point. Only long-term absentee Gerry Harrison will be missing, with Andy Heald recovering from an ankle knock to take on his former club.

Leigh will take on high-flying Hereford United on Tuesday with every game picking up added significance to the relegation battle.