LEIGH RMI hope to secure the future of the club by striking a deal to sell Hilton Park.

The cash-strapped club expect to reach an agreement later this week that will enable them to move to a new stadium and continue for a third season in the Conference.

Hilton Park is owned by Grundy Hill Estates, a company offshoot of RMI, who need to agree to offer the ground as part of a deal that will take the Railwaymen and Leigh Centurions to a new £12million 10,000 seater stadium in the Pennington area of Leigh.

The overall cost of the development, which includes a hotel, running track, rugby and soccer pitches and educational facilities will top £50m and be a partnership between RMI and Leigh Centurions, who currently play at Hilton Park, Leigh East ARLFC, Leigh Harriers AC and Wigan Council

It has been an uphill battle for the football club to survive ever since they decided to sell their Grundy Hill ground at Horwich seven years ago and took the bold step of switching towns.

RMI average gates of little more than 400 despite more than holding their own in a division just one down from the Football League. They were close to folding midway through last season because of a lack of cash and only a drastic cost-cutting exercise kept them afloat.

RMI are within an ace of an agreement which could secure their long term financial future.

Defender Dave German has dimissed reports linking him with a move to Altrincham, while veteran Dave Ridings has confirmed he will stay at Leigh RMI.