Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Friday, 16 November

Premier League News


Sheffield: The Tigers’ management are upset to have received a transfer request from Lee Complin who, although a Sheffield asset, rode for Stoke last year after making a comeback to the sport:

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Lee Complin has stunned Premier League runners-up Sheffield Tigers with a transfer request.The Owlerton club, widely regarded as one of the best promoted and well run in the country, are set to circulate his name to all clubs after failing to hold suitable talks with the rider. It is a bitter blow to the club after they also received a demand for a move from Canadian Kyle Legault recently.

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And it's the second time Complin has quit the club after retiring at the end of the 2002 season.Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: ""We were set to offer Lee a place back at Sheffield for next season - at his own request! "More than once Lee had said he would like to be included in our plans - until something and someone changed his way of thinking.

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"We had an offer prepared and there was a lot of sponsorship on the table for the lad. Now the sponsors have been left scratching their heads wondering what has gone on and I can't blame them." Meanwile Tigers owner Neil Machin is furious with the way the two transfer requests have been handled."Somebody is advising my assets, like Legault and Complin, to leave Sheffield Speedway and I don't like it," said Machin. "I hate what's going on behind the scenes and, quite frankly, it stinks. We went out of our way to get Kyle Legault fixed up elsewhere and, when Lee Complin decided to make a comeback in April, we again worked hard to find him a team place elsewhere.

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"They have had advice, clearly, about the wording of the letter and the timing of the request and when I find out just who the culprit is I will take it all the way. There is a total lack of respect being shown to the good name of Sheffield Tigers Speedway and our superb fan base."

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Source: Worldspeedway.com



Berwick: One of the Bandits’ likely targets for next season, Matej Kus, looks to have turned his back on a return to Shielfield in 2008:
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Berwick Bandits’ target Matej Kus has virtually ruled out a return next term after agreeing to ride in the Danish Super League.
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Source: Daily Record



Workington: The Comets continue to receive excellent coverage in the press as a news article in the local paper gives pride of place to Charles Wright who has re-signed for the Comets along with other snippets of speedway news from around the tracks:

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CHARLES Wright plans to earn a place in the body of the Workington Comets team next season – and build on a promising first year in the Premier League. The Comets reserve, who was the second rider to sign on the dotted line for 2008, admits he was delighted to be asked to return to Derwent Park. “There were a couple of other teams who had expressed an interest in me but I only wanted to go back to Workington, so when the Comets asked to talk about a deal I knew where I was going. I enjoyed my first season at Derwent Park and I think I can build on that.

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Everybody sets targets in this sport and mine will be to improve my average and move up from reserve into a second string slot. “I’ll be looking to get myself a part-time job during the winter and hopefully get some money together to improve my equipment. I’m also looking to find new sponsors because they can make such a difference,” he says. Charles is unlikely to have elder brother James for company this season as he’s looking increasingly likely to go into the Elite League on a permanent basis. With Charles Wright and Kauko Nieminen re-signed Workington co-promoter Ian Thomas is planning a third announcement before the annual meeting at the end of the month.

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Meanwhile Sheffield Tigers have been hit by a second transfer request from a rider who didn’t figure in their plans last season. Canadian Kyle Legault rocked the club with a demand for a move last month and now a second un-named rider wants away.

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Co-promoter David Hoggart, the former Workington announcer, said: “I find it staggering that both Kyle and the other rider concerned are not even talking to the club and it shows a lack of respect to Sheffield speedway and the fans."

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Reading are to revert back to regular Monday night racing next season after the dismal failure of a switch to Friday. The Racers are keen to encourage new fans at the same time as racing on the club’s traditional night.Co-promoter Malcolm Holloway said: “Both Mark Legg and I would like to see more children and families in general each week, but we must also look after our existing fan-base. It’s still not certain whether Reading will be staying in the Elite League next season or looking to join the Premier League.

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No such doubts at Oxford as the Cheetahs are keen to compete in both the Premier League and Conference League next season. Owner Allen Trump, who rescued the club from probable closure last June, is set to apply for membership at the sport’s AGM at the end of the month.Cheetahs’ manager Peter Oakes said: “There have been lots of rumours but I can confirm Allen wants to see the club racing at both levels next year.”
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Source: News and Star