LEIGH'S new coach is suggesting no miracles as he settles into the hot seat.

"It's unlikely we'll get up this season," admitted Eric Hughes.

"But, long-term, we have to be making progress in the First Division and then challenge for Super League status."

Hughes reckons that could take until the turn of the century.

And the man, surprisingly dumped by St Helens in January after two highly-successful seasons, arrived at Hilton Park on the back of a three-and-half year contract.

He was the super-fast replacement for Ian Lucas, axed after a nightmare start to the inaugural Summer Season.

Leigh were determined to move in quickly. They wanted to give the new coach a healthy run-in towards his first match this weekend while Hughes already had one lucrative offer from Barrow and was being linked with other possible future coaching vacancies.

Negotiations were wrapped within 32 hours of the Lucas exit. And the former Widnes and Great Britain back became Leigh's 17th coach in 21 years.

He stepped in knowing he faces a grim uphill struggle.

"Finances dictate the club can't buy it's way out of trouble," he said. "So we have to look to develop a team gradually. That takes time.

"The job at Leigh really appealed to me because it's a club with great tradition and potential - a club at the heartbeat of the game.

"It's sad to see them down in the lower reaches of the Second Division. It's going to be a long haul - but we'll get there in the end."

Hughes, 45, is in his second spell at Hilton Park, having worked on the coaching staff under Alex Murphy in the early 1990s.

He says his first task will be to assess the club from top to bottom. "There will be no immediate sweeping changes," he added.

But he is realistic enough to admit promotion chances have been badly hit by Leigh's poor start to the season.

"Sad to say, it looks highly unlikely we'll get up this season," he said. "We'll certainly be giving it a go, but, if we miss out, we'll use the time to assess the strength of the playing staff.

"I'll try to do with Leigh what I did with Saints. When I left there they were far stronger than when I went in. That's something of which I'm proud."

Leigh chairman Mick Higgins is delighted to have landed a coach of such calibre and high profile.

"Eric is highly-regarded throughout the game and has the natural qualities for which we were looking," he said. "His depth of experience in the game and track record are second to none.

"I'm delighted for the public of Leigh and the sponsors of the club that we've landed such a top coach who has the qualities to take us forward.

"This is the start of a new era for us, one that hopefully will see us make considerable progress.

"We hope he can bring the success back to this club that has been long overdue."

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