Last updated at 12:14, Saturday, 22 September 2012

Ex-Workington promoter George Graham has blasted speedway bosses for not supporting Workington Comets owner Keith Denham, who has struggled to keep the team afloat.

Keith Denham

Graham, who has a season ticket at Derwent Park, blamed the British Speedway Promoters’ Association for failing Workington in their time of need.

He said Premier League clubs received no money, despite helping to hone the skills of future international riders, and insisted all efforts went into backing Elite League teams. His words come as Denham contemplates quitting Comets, after admitting the cost of running the club was becoming too much, but said he was prepared to sell it if somebody came forward.

“Keith has had no support from the powers that be,” Graham said.

“Workington are a mainstay of British speedway, and some money should got towards helping clubs like ourselves and others like Glasgow and Plymouth who have been left high and dry.

“With the economic climate how it is, crowds across the country have been dwindling, which puts a huge amount of pressure on owners to fund the sport from their own pockets but Keith has done a first class job.

“And at the same time, Elite League clubs are getting £70,000 in television revenue, and none of it is filtering through.”

Denham has made a bold bid to bring fan favourite Rusty Harrison back to the team after the BSPA management committee failed to overturn his ban last week. And he made another plea this week to bring him back but had not heard whether this has been successful.

However, he has said a number of star riders have already said they want to sign for the team next year.

Simon Stead tops that list with current riders Richard Lawson and Rene Bach wanting to return as well as Ricky Wells, Ryan Fisher and Jason Bunyan.

A bumper attendance is expected for tonight’s clash with Leicester and in a twist of irony, Michael Palm Toft, the rider who snapped Kenny Ingalls back in five places when he crashed into the prone rider last month, replaces the American ace.

Workington have been handed a boost with both Kyle Howarth and Tero Aarnio expected to return.

First published at 10:50, Saturday, 22 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk