THE mass exodus at Leigh RM continued as midfielder Dave Ridings became the third high profile player to leave Hilton Park.

Ridings cited the need for a 'new challenge' for the move - which will unite him with former Leigh assistant Dave Miller at Unibond League side Stalybridge Celtic

He is the second Leigh player snapped up by Miller after signing out of favour Craig Dootson a fortnight ago. Defender Dave German may be next to join Celtic.

Ridings has been the corner stone of the Leigh side after spells at Crewe Alexandra and Halifax, but spent much of last season on the sidelines with a variety of injuries. Ligament damage incurred during a game with Southport saw him out of action for ten weeks at the start of the season, whilst hamstring problems plagued the back half of the Conference campiagn.

And Leigh manager Steve Waywell insisted that the fitness factor softened the blow when he was told of the news: "I think that Leigh have had the best out of Dave Ridings as a player , but that doesn't mean that I wanted him to go. He isn't the fittest of players and generally the older you get, the more injuries you get. He is still a good player, but I don't think that we would have got too many games out of him next season, and considering the pitches in the Unibond, I'm not sure Stalybridge will either."

As if Waywell does not have enough problems, he will have to negotiate a deal to keep hold of defender Iain Swan this week. Swan is believed to have agreed terms with Red Rose rivals Morecambe, and could be off if the price is right at Christie Park.

Furthermore, Waywell predicts a further rush of players to go to Stalybridge in the near future, and that could leave Leigh's plans for the season in tatters long before it has even started.