Last updated 12:22, Friday, 24 October 2008

Workington Comets team manager Ian Thomas has fired the first salvo in the build-up to this weekend’s Young Shield final.

Thomas hit out at Berwick boss Peter Waite in the way he has passed on information about his line-up for the two legs.

Waite has to find a guest for injured Hungarian Tamas Sike to ride at number two and should have passed on details five days before the meeting for programme purposes.

But Thomas is still waiting to find out who will be replacing Sike, although he has been informed that Tai Woffinden will ride as a guest at number one for Adrian Rymel. He also knows that Berwick will be using rider replacement for their injured Finn Tero Aarnio.

“He knows why we require details. This is a final for heaven’s sake,” said Thomas.

Workington have notified the Bandits that Tomas Topinka will be riding at number one instead of the injured Daniel Nermark, in both meetings, and they will be operating the rider replacement facility for captain Kauko Nieminen.

Waite says he has been unable to book a number two so far and is still working on it.

He has, however, announced his frustration at the lack of progress in selling the Bandits after putting it on the market last week-end.

He says: “I know it’s only been five days since I announced this coming weekend is my final one as promoter of Berwick Speedway, but if people think there’s a mountain of time then I have to repeat there’s not.

“There are 21 days before the AGM for the BSPA begins and we need it sorted by then.

“Berwick speedway is a fine brand, it has a 41-season history. It’s the biggest professional sport in the area and it has a huge potential for further success.

“We are sitting here on the brink of a national trophy final, and I have a firm belief this is a title we can win.

“But there’s so much more potential success to come the Bandits way over the seasons to come if we get an enthusiastic buyer eager for silverware and gold medals.

“I want to clarify one point I made last Saturday night, and that’s I don’t think a large numbered fans’ consortium would be the way to go, but if four or five businesses with a like mind for speedway and running it jointly as a business then I cannot see why that won’t be a hit.

“For one man to take it on solo would be a major task – I know from experience, but if there’s a one-man operation with the funding then we’ll talk, and if there’s a business group of 3,4,5,6 or whatever businesses keen to make a constructive offer then I’m equally keen to chat over a deal.”

He has also announced that if the first leg at Berwick is rained-off it will be re-staged on Wednesday, October 29.

As for Workington they will re-stage on Tuesday night at 7-30pm if Sunday is rained off and thereafter will try on Thursday and Friday, both at 7.30pm to accommodate any more postpopnements.

The match has to be complted by October 31 as there will be no extension to the season and the trophy will be decided even if opnly one leg has been raced.

Thomas said: “It’s the first time in the whole time I have been involved in speedway, and it’s nearly 40 years since I first started, that I have given three rain-off dates.

“But with it being so late in the season we have to make every effort to get the matches in.”