Scorpions blow as Poole quits

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS have been suffered a blow ahead of their 2016 Premier League campaign – new signing Taylor Poole has quit speedway.

Everything seemed rosy in December when the 23-year-old Australian finished fourth in the New South Wales championship, thereby gaining the necessary qualification to gain a work permit to be able to race in the UK.

The first sign that anything was amiss was when Poole withdrew on Friday from an Australian Championship qualifier.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “We only got the message this morning (Saturday) that Taylor has decided to quit speedway.

“Nothing has happened between us and Taylor. But something has happened over in Australia which has caused him to have a change of heart.

“He spent a long time out through injury and maybe he’s decided it’s not worth another knock and it’s just not for him. For the full story, someone would need to talk to him.

“We were fully willing to take a gamble on him, because we knew he was a strong rider around the Eddie Wright Raceway, but it’s not to be.”

Godfrey now must make alternative plans, and has up to 6.23 points to play with, in terms of a replacement.

“Of course, it’s a blow for us”, he states. “When I first heard the news this morning I was gutted, because I thought it knocked for six our entire plan for the year ahead. But, who knows, it might even be a blessing in disguise.

“I can assure our supporters that we have several options. We have a few irons in the fire, and we will emerge from this stronger.”