LEIGH chairman Mick Higgins has defended his decision to charge full admission prices for the club's two pre-season friendlies.

"We've come under a bit of criticism from fans who thought the £6 admission charge was excessive in view of the weakened teams we turned out," admitted the Hilton Park boss.

But Higgins stressed that had full prices not been charged the club would have made significant losses.

"It wasn't a decision we made lightly," he added. "Both games against Swinton and Oldham were on a shared gate basis which meant the opposition took 50 per cent of the receipts.

"Then there are operating costs such as turnstile operators, stewards and medical people as well as payment to the players. Although the players weren't on full money, they still need paying.

"All that money has to come from somewhere.

"The basic object of the exercise was for coach Keith Latham to have the chance to look at all his fringe players under full match conditions while at the same time not to lose money on the exercise.

"There were so many things to take into consideration.

"But if the public of Leigh are upset by the decision then I apologise. It was a decision made with the club's best interests at heart."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.