Kieron Purtill: It has been a traumatic week

Leigh coach Kieron Purtill admitted that it has been a tough week for the club but is confident that it will come back stronger.

Earlier in the week, Derek Beaumont announced that he will leavehis position as owner of the Centurions at the end of the season after they failed to reach the top four.

In a bid to cut costs, Leigh have since sold high earners Harrison Hansen, Peter Mata’utia, Ben Crooks, Craig Hall, Bodene Thompson and Jordan Thompson.

And even though it has been a difficult week, Purtill thinks the club will comeback bigger and better.

He said: “It’s been a traumatic week.

“It has been a tough week personally. We have worked hard as a group for a number of weeks now and to see that group taken apart towards the end is very sad for me.

“I have got some good friends who have left the club, but we are a strong club and we have got a fantastic fan base as they showed (against Sheffield). They were outstanding and the reception they gave us was first class and it almost brought a tear to my eye.

“This club has got strong foundations, a strong fan base and it has been in bad places before, but it has come back better and stronger and I’m sure we will again.”

The Centurions beat Sheffield Eagles 34-10 at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday but it wasn’t enough for them to make the Qualifiers. Toulouse Olympique, Halifax and London Broncos all won to confirm their place in the top four alongside league leaders Toronto Wolfpack.

But Purtill is remaining positive and wants to lift the Championship Shield this year.

He added: “We are disappointed with where we have finished but hopefully we will get some wins together and we want to lift a trophy at the end of the year for those fans who have been outstanding.

“At the end of the day, we are in a competition to win a trophy and that’s what we want to do.

“No matter what trophy or competition you are in, you want to win it and that is what we are going to focus on. We have got five days off now so we are going to relax a bit and get our heads back together.”

Leigh do not have a game next weekend but they will start their Championship Shield campaign in a fortnight.