BRITISH Speedway's top brass have slammed Peterborough's decision to release Pirates star Jack Holder from the showpiece Fours Championship.

The prestigious meeting, which is part of Speedway Great Britain's major events series, was due to take place at the East of England Arena and Events Centre today.

Holder, however, was due to ride in Poland for Torun after Panthers agreed to release him, a move which the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee refused to sanction.

Chairman Keith Chapman said: "The absence of Jack Holder from one of the biggest meetings in the domestic calendar is nothing to do with the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee.

"We are appalled by Peterborough in allowing this situation to arise. I have been desperately trying to protect British Speedway with dates and contracted fixtures for riders and when a club ignores that we might as well all give up. Contractually and by agreement, the rider should be at Peterborough, not in Poland.

"If the rider had gone to Poland and raced without the permission of his club, he would have been banned for withholding his services for 28 days. This is not the case with Jack Holder as his club have given him their blessing and we have evidence of the true reason. They have sold British Speedway down the river.

"It is not to our satisfaction and we will now put in place the relevant sanctions to apply to the Peterborough Speedway promotion.

"I am passionate about defending British Speedway. This is a major blow to the sport in the UK and the blame is very firmly at the door of Peterborough Speedway."