SCUNTHORPE 2014 SEASON

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All the updates in regard to the 2014 season

[Genghis]

MANAGER PEET RETURNS FOR FLUID-AIR POWER SCORPIONS

DAVE PEET will return to Scunthorpe in 2014 – as the full-time team manager of the FluidAir Power Scorpions.

Previous manager Richard Hollingsworth stood down in April 2013, to concentrate on the thriving youth scene at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Ex-referee Peet, also a former boss at Hull and Berwick, came in as part-time manager following Hollingsworth’s departure from the role, covering all the home meetings at the Eddie Wright Raceway, plus the occasional away fixture. Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey covered the role of team manager for the bulk of the away meetings in 2013.

Peet is delighted to be the full-time boss in 2014.

He said: “It’s great to be back as team manager at Scunthorpe, and I’m delighted that I will be team manager for all our meetings this season, both home and away.

“Last year was quite start-stop for me, with me only doing the odd away meeting. There were less Premier League fixtures last season, and sometimes we went three weeks without a home meeting. So I wasn’t seeing the riders every week.

“It can be quite tricky speaking to riders at home meetings, because they’ve got their families and sponsors and so forth in attendance. I fully endorse them being there, but it means you can’t have a real in-depth conversation with the riders.

“But with the away meetings, when the rider is just there with a single mechanic, you can really get to know a rider and have time to speak to him.

“It gives us continuity. This year, when we turn up at Scunthorpe on a Friday, I will have been with the lads at, for example, Ipswich the night before. It just helps us all gel together that much better.”

Peet can’t wait for the season to start.

“We’ve got a good, strong, solid team”, he said. “We do have two riders returning from injury, but I hope David Howe can hit the ground running, while Ashley Birks can continue from where he left off.

“Anders Mellgren and Matt Williamson are good additions to the team. I think it makes us stronger than we were last season.

“When you look down our team, everyone from our top six could end up as No 1.

“We need a strong start to the season. Last season, we dropped some points at home early on, and we were then playing catch-up. It proved our downfall. This season, we need to dominate the meetings at Scunthorpe, while I feel we can go anywhere and pick up points.”

Peet is delighted to be involved with Scunthorpe Speedway.

“Speedway has always been part of my life, and I’m just delighted to be associated with a club where they are doing so much to help the youngsters. It’s worked already – Scunthorpe already has produced one World Champion in Tai Woffinden. Seven years ago, he was Conference League with Scunthorpe; now he’s World Champion.

“I went to the British Youth Round last weekend, and saw some of the next generation of Scunthorpe riders. It’s a dream come true to be associated with a club where that is happening.”

The FluidAir Power Scorpions are involved in their first fixture of the season on Sunday (March 30th, 3pm), when they entertain local rivals Sheffield in League Cup action at the Eddie Wright Raceway, as part of a double-header also featuring the Scunthorpe Stags’ National League side.

* Dave Peet would like to thank the following for their sponsorship in 2014: Linda Waite (Cornhill Village Shop, Berwick), Mark Evans & Co Accountants (Hull), Kevin’s Shoes.

[Genghis]

DOUGLAS ALL-CLEAR FOR RELIEVED SCORPIONS

BOTH the management of Scunthorpe speedway and Ryan Douglas are breathing a sigh of relief, after receiving confirmation that the Australian has been granted a tier-five visa, which will allow him to ride for the FluidAir Power Scorpions in the Premier League this season.

A tweet from Ryan Douglas revealed the news that all Scorpions’ fans have been hoping for: “Visa has been despatched! What a relief, I can’t thank Rob Godfrey and Scunthorpe speedway enough for all the behind-the-scenes work. See you all soon!”

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey is also a delighted man.

Godfrey said: “Ryan’s going to get his visa and we are now 100% sure that he will be riding for the Scorpions this season.

“We’ve moved heaven & earth to get him back and get the visa issue sorted, because he is a key rider for us this season.

“One rider doesn’t make a team by any means, but a high-scoring reserve can make such a difference.”

Godfrey conceded Douglas may miss the Scorpions’ opening fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday (3pm), a League Cup clash against local rivals Sheffield.

He explained: “We’ve been following what’s been happening with Leicester’s Jason Doyle very closely, because his application was two days in front of that of Ryan.

“The Embassy in Manila in the Philippines that has been handling Ryan’s visa application has granted it, and they have said that has passport, including the visa, will be back with him in three days.

“We know from the Jason Doyle case, it could be closer to a week.

“There’s a chance that Ryan may be over here in time for Sunday’s meeting, but I think we have to be realistic and say that the chances are that he will miss it.

“There’s no point in re-declaring for one meeting, and the only other option is a National League guest.

“So we have James Sarjeant on standby to guest for us on Sunday – I’m sure he will do a fine job for us if we do require him to ride in Ryan’s place. It’s just one meeting, and I’m sure the rest of the team will rise to the challenge.

“But the great news is that Ryan Douglas will be riding for us in our quest for glory in the Premier League this season”, Godfrey concluded.