POOLE Pirates co-promoter Gordon Pairman has refuted suggestions from Coventry Bees that he reneged on his offer to sit out their recent Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) hearing.

Coventry dragged Pairman’s name into their battle to overturn an SCB verdict which saw the club fined an additional £3,000 for failing to meet the two-minute warning on more than one occasion in heat 10 against Poole on June 1.

The rain-soaked meeting was brought to a close after the 10th race – the point at which the result stands – with Pirates claiming a 36-22 victory in the top-of-the-table clash.

Ahead of the initial hearing, Pairman vowed to vacate the room should there be a conflict of interest.

A statement released yesterday read: “Coventry can confirm, contrary to a recent press release from Poole, that at no stage were they given the option of requesting the withdrawal of any member of the panel due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

“Coventry feel the overall conclusion of the SCB has failed to take into account the full circumstances of the meeting and the roles of key officials on the night, despite the evidence presented, and that the penalty is unjust.

“Having given the matter due consideration, the club has paid an appeal fee to the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) in accordance with regulation 3.4.11.”

Pairman insisted he did offer to leave the room but vowed to hold no grudge against the Coventry management over their latest comments.

Pairman told the Daily Echo: “I am disappointed by the remarks made by Coventry because I made my position clear.

“But my involvement has now finished, any appeal process needs to go through the Auto Cycle Union and I’m not going to get upset about it. My conscience is absolutely clear.

“I always said if there was a conflict of interest that I would go and sit outside. It was offered and declined.

“The decision was made by the all members, there were no dissenting voices.”

On the track, Poole will be out to avenge Monday’s capitulation at Wolverhampton in tomorrow’s home meeting against the same opponents (7.30pm).

Pirates led by 12 points after nine heats at Monmore Green but an 8-1 tactical ride helped the Wolves bite back to claim a 47-46 victory.

Neil Middleditch has a full complement of seven riders with the visitors set to track at least one guest in their problem reserve positions.

Coventry charger James Sarjeant guests for the injured Lewis Blackbird, while Josh Bates is replaced by Robert Branford having contracted a bout of tonsillitis. 

Poole: (from) Chris Holder, Davey Watt, Dakota North, Kacper Gomolski, Maciej Janowski, Paul Starke, Kyle Newman. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Wolves: (from) Peter Karlsson, Jacob Thorssell, Ricky Wells, Tobiasz Musielak, Fredrik Lindgren, James Sarjeant (guest), Robert Branford (guest). Team manager: Peter Adams.

Coventry’s statement in full

Coventry can confirm they will be lodging an appeal against the verdict issued by the Speedway Control Bureau last week.

The members present at the meeting on July 9, which discussed the events of the Coventry v Poole fixture on June 1, were: Tony Gillias (SCB Chairman); Dickie Staff (SCB Member - ACU), Peter Gregory (substitute SCB Member - ACU, replacing unavailable Gary Thompson), Alex Harkess (SCB Member - BSPA) and Gordon Pairman (SCB Member - BSPA).

Also present were SCB Prime Officer Graham Reeve and Clerk to the Court Mrs Nikki Jamieson.

Coventry can also confirm, contrary to a recent press release from Poole, that at no stage were they given the option of requesting the withdrawal of any member of this panel due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. The club was epresented by co-promoters Mick Horton and Neil Watson.

The SCB members ruled the Buildbase Bees had been in breach of regulation 4.1.9 during the abandoned meeting against Poole on June 1, stating that the riders had “failed to meet the 2-minute time allowance facility on more than one occasion.”

Coventry feel the overall conclusion of the SCB has failed to take into account the full circumstances of the meeting and the roles of key officials on the night, despite the evidence presented, and that the penalty is unjust.

Having given the matter due consideration, the club has paid an Appeal fee to the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) in accordance with regulation 3.4.11.

Since the SCB judgement was made public on Thursday July 16, the club has been inundated with messages of support via e-mails and social networks.

Several kind messages have been received asking whether any practical help can be given by supporters in respect of the fines issued to the club, Gary Havelock, Chris Harris and Joonas Kylmakorpi.

The total fines currently stand at £4,125 - £3,000 issued by the SCB last week in addition to £375 to each of the named riders and team manager on the night.

We see this as an opportunity for the entire Coventry Speedway family to come together in a positive fashion: promotion, management, riders and supporters.

If you feel able to make a donation to assist the club to cover the costs of the appeal initially, we would be most grateful; and we would be interested to hear from any supporter(s) who would like to administer this Fund on the club’s behalf.

Please contact info@coventrybees.co if you are able to help, and we will be looking to have arrangements in place in time for the home fixture against King’s Lynn on July 31.

Should the club then be successful in having the SCB and on-the-night fines rescinded, we would then utilise the money raised by organising free coach travel for supporters to away fixtures in the Elite League play-offs at the end of the season.