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OVE him or hate him no one deny the mighty mouth of rugby league Alex Murphy has done a lot for Leigh.

After six years out of the game, the 1971Cup winning hero has returned to Hilton Park as Director of Football.

It is the fifth time the 64-years-old legend, who is still on the speaking circuit, has been drawn back to the town, so he must have some affinity with it.

Let's hope that he has retained that extra magic touch that can at last take the Centurions up where they deserve to be in the Super League.

I first met Alex in the Sixties when an old boss, after a few scoops in the George, was daft enough to make the broad statement to him that all rugby league players were thick.

That was when I first encountered the fire and I've admired him ever since. Welcome back, Alex.