Wolves look to the future
Wolves speedway promoter Chris Van Straaten and manager Peter Adams urged fans to look to the future in a positive light at a fans' forum.
Wolves speedway promoter Chris Van Straaten and manager Peter Adams urged fans to look to the future in a positive light at a fans' forum.
More than 130 supporters attended the talk-in at the Chillington Working Mens' Club, on Hickman Avenue, where the management team dealt with a number of insightful questions and interesting issues.
The current economic climate and financial matters were covered with Van Straaten stating that there would be no drop in admission prices at Monmore for next season but also reporting that season ticket sales were on the increase.
Van Straaten revealed that 2008 Wolf David Howe is set to drop into the Premier League with Scunthorpe next season, while ex-Wolf James Grieves has signed for Glasgow.
The promoter also stated that 2008 heat leader Niels Kristian Iversen was "80 per cent certain" to be returning to his parent club Peterborough for next season.
The news which was greeted with perhaps the greatest enthusiasm by the fans was that club legend Peter Karlsson would be interested in racing in Britain again - if the opportunity arose - as would his brother Mikael Max.
No indication was given as to whether the Swedish duo would be part of Wolves' plans for next season. The new league points system was also discussed at length.
Adams said: "It will take time to get used to but will soon drop into place in the sport. The new system was one of my proposals at this year's AGM in Spain, and unlike the aggregate bonus point it benefits both teams in every meeting."
Another of Adams' proposals was the scrapping of the tactical substitute rule where the nominated rider starts from a 15 metre handicap. In 2009 teams will be allowed to use two tactical rides, but starting from the gate each time.
He said: "The secret to any sporting contest is to keep things as close as possible and conceal the winner for as long as you can.
"These points and tactical rules should see more close meetings and last heat deciders."
Van Straaten confirmed that Wolves would be employing the new "doubling up" rule, which allows two riders to share a reserve berth while also competing in the Premier League.
"The first choices for this role for us would be Chris Kerr and Ty Procter," he said, "but nothing has been finalised yet. I would very much like to have Chris in the team as he has a fine personality and is likely to be a hit with the fans."
It was also revealed that flamboyant Polish rider Adam Skornicki would like to return to the Wolves fold, and the club have applied to stage his testimonial meeting either next year or in 2010.
One meeting which will definitely be staged at Monmore in 2009 is a farewell tribute to 1996 World Champion Billy Hamill as he retires from racing.
Adams said: "Billy enjoyed his time with Wolves so much that he specially requested that his farewell meeting be staged at Monmore Green."
Van Straaten said that young Dane Krister Jacobsen, currently with Stoke in the Premier League, was in the pipeline for 2010, while former Wolf William Lawson and fellow Scotsman Andrew Tully were also mentioned, although the promoter said that taking up residence closer to the Elite League venues would be a huge advantage to their careers.
A further decision by the sport's governing body gives them new power over clubs whose riders are said to be "withholding their services" when absent from meetings.
Whereas these clubs could automatically use a guest rider to cover for these absences in 2008, it will now be the job of a new committee to decide if teams are able to use a guest rider or otherwise depending on the circumstances.
Van Straaten also stated that Wolves would not be entering a second team in the new third tier National League, and that he was pleased with the progress of young Wolves asset Joe Haines who recently signed for Rye House.
