Neil Jukes returns to Leigh

Drew Darbyshire 05 Feb 2020 10:57 AM

Former Leigh coach Neil Jukes has returned to the club in an off-field role following the resignation of chief executive Matthew Chantler.

Jukes had a stint as head coach of the Centurions between 2016-18. He returns to the club in the role of general manager on a short-term deal.

Chantler has resigned from his role as Leigh chief executive due to personal reasons. He is facilitating a handover of club affairs from home.

Centurions owner, Derek Beaumont, said: “Matthew has worked with me on a daily basis. We have experienced many highs and lows and I have developed a relationship with him during that time.

“His legal skill sets have been particularly useful to the club during his tenure and he has worked very hard, successfully reducing costs in many areas of the business.

“Considering when I convinced him to change tact from sports law to become CEO, we have done well, given what had to be endured, to have seen him stay for the four years. I know it was important to him to stay on until the outcome of the player claims and I thank him for doing so.

“Running a sporting club is a difficult role with limited resources, and where the bounce of a ball or the blowing of a whistle can have a large impact on the business. There is also a lot of uncertainty with little stability, when the very existence of the business of any real significance depends on a history of benefactors.

“The game itself also faces uncertainty on its future funding and given everything in a nutshell, with Matthew’s personal circumstances, I can understand the decision he has reached.”