Manager Dave Peet returns for FluidAir Power Scorpions

DAVE PEET will return to Scunthorpe in 2014 – as the full-time team manager of the FluidAir Power Scorpions.

Previous manager Richard Hollingsworth stood down in April 2013, to concentrate on the thriving youth scene at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Ex-referee Peet, also a former boss at Hull and Berwick, came in as part-time manager following Hollingsworth’s departure from the role, covering all the home meetings at the Eddie Wright Raceway, plus the occasional away fixture. Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey covered the role of team manager for the bulk of the away meetings in 2013.

Peet is delighted to be the full-time boss in 2014.

He said: “It’s great to be back as team manager at Scunthorpe, and I’m delighted that I will be team manager for all our meetings this season, both home and away.

“Last year was quite start-stop for me, with me only doing the odd away meeting. There were less Premier League fixtures last season, and sometimes we went three weeks without a home meeting. So I wasn’t seeing the riders every week.

“It can be quite tricky speaking to riders at home meetings, because they’ve got their families and sponsors and so forth in attendance. I fully endorse them being there, but it means you can’t have a real in-depth conversation with the riders.

“But with the away meetings, when the rider is just there with a single mechanic, you can really get to know a rider and have time to speak to him.

“It gives us continuity. This year, when we turn up at Scunthorpe on a Friday, I will have been with the lads at, for example, Ipswich the night before. It just helps us all gel together that much better.”

Peet can’t wait for the season to start.

“We’ve got a good, strong, solid team”, he said. “We do have two riders returning from injury, but I hope David Howe can hit the ground running, while Ashley Birks can continue from where he left off.

“Anders Mellgren and Matt Williamson are good additions to the team. I think it makes us stronger than we were last season.

“When you look down our team, everyone from our top six could end up as No 1.”

“We need a strong start to the season. Last season, we dropped some points at home early on, and we were then playing catch-up. It proved our downfall. This season, we need to dominate the meetings at Scunthorpe, while I feel we can go anywhere and pick up points.”

Peet is delighted to be involved with Scunthorpe Speedway.

“Speedway has always been part of my life, and I’m just delighted to be associated with a club where they are doing so much to help the youngsters. It’s worked already – Scunthorpe already has produced one World Champion in Tai Woffinden. Seven years ago, he was Conference League with Scunthorpe; now he’s World Champion.

“I went to the British Youth Round last weekend, and saw some of the next generation of Scunthorpe riders. It’s a dream come true to be associated with a club where that is happening.”

The FluidAir Power Scorpions are involved in their first fixture of the season on Sunday (March 30th, 3pm), when they entertain local rivals Sheffield in League Cup action at the Eddie Wright Raceway, as part of a double-header also featuring the Scunthorpe Stags’ National League side.

* Dave Peet would like to thank the following for their sponsorship in 2014: Linda Waite (Cornhill Village Shop, Berwick), Mark Evans & Co Accountants (Hull), Kevin’s Shoes.