COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton has issued a scathing statement over the decision to grant Poole Pirates the guest facility for Dakota North.

Pirates charger North has been granted a week’s compassionate leave on medical advice after his father, Rod North, an esteemed former rider who represented Poole in 1982, was seriously injured in an industrial accident in Australia.

North junior scored no points on Friday after hearing of the news with Pirates drafting in Edward Kennett as a replacement for tomorrow’s Elite League play-off semi-final second leg at Wimborne Road (7.30pm).

Horton revealed the Bees had questioned the validity Poole’s stand-in, citing the Speedway Control Bureau’s rule 16.5.1 which states a rider who is sick or carrying a non-speedway injury must have a medical certificate.

Coventry confirmed they have been informed North has fulfilled that requirement but an incensed Horton is still not happy and even encouraged Bees fans to stay at home.

Addressing the issue on Coventry’s official website, Horton said: “First and foremost, I want to stress that we as a club have great sympathy for Dakota North.

"It is awful news for him with his father seriously injured on the other side of the world and our thoughts go out to him and his family.

“But I’m very disillusioned with the situation. The accident happened before Friday yet Dakota rode in the first leg, scoring zero, and then our manager Gary Havelock was informed on Saturday night that the change was being made.

“We registered an appeal over the Poole team line-up on Sunday morning given their statement that Dakota had been ruled out on compassionate grounds but we are now told they have a medical certificate for him.

“I do have to question whether this would have happened had Dakota scored 10 points on Friday. I doubt he would then have been missing on Monday.

“When I heard about it I expected to then find out he would be on the plane home to Australia, which I would be telling my rider to do in that situation regardless of the cost, but I see instead he was on the golf course on Sunday with Davey Watt.

“It is clear that on current form Edward Kennett is likely to score more than Dakota North around Poole. Everyone can see the reaction to this situation on social media and on the forums.

"Where does it end? This is not just a Coventry issue, it is speedway fans in general who cannot understand why this is happening.

“We will go to Poole and we will do our very best of course, but I can only apologise to the Coventry fans.

"I want to stress we have strongly raised the issue and I would not blame them one bit if they choose not to go because that’s how I feel myself.”

The Bees have made two late changes of their own, opting for rider replacement for Joonas Kylmakorpi instead of drafting in Wolves rider Freddie Lindgren.

Reserve Jason Garrity, injured against Poole on Friday, is replaced by Josh Bates.

Pirates: (from) Kacper Gomolski, Chris Holder, Edward Kennett (guest), Maciej Janowski, Davey Watt, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Coventry: (from) Hans Andersen, Chris Harris, Kyle Howarth, Danny King, rider replacement for Joonas Kylmakorpi, Josh Bates (guest), James Sarjeant. Team manager: Gary Havelock.