Nicolai Klindt returns for second spell at Scunthorpe

FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions have signed Nicolai Klindt to cover for injured No 1 Anders Mellgren. It is Klindt’s second spell at the club.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey finalised the deal with the 25-year-old Dane less than an hour after the Scorpions lost 43-48 at home to Edinburgh yesterday (Bank Holiday Monday).

Subject to BSPA approval, Klindt – a rider with World Cup experience with Denmark – is due to make his 2014 Scorpions’ debut at Berwick on Saturday night.

Mellgren, who is recovering in Sweden from a fracture to the spine, is likely to be out for a few more weeks.

Neither rider replacement nor guests have sufficiently covered for his absence, so the Scorpions have signed Klindt as a 28-day injury replacement.

Klindt previously rode for the Scorpions in 2013, joining the club in July and sparking an improved run of results for the team.

He comes in on an average of 6.98. Josh Auty will move to No 1 for the Scorpions, and it is expected that Klindt will line up at No 3, with Ryan Douglas shifting to No 5.

Godfrey says: “I’m delighted that Nicolai is back with the club.

“He’s in for at least 28 days – perhaps for longer.

“Anders is so determined to get back as soon as possible, so there’s every chance at the end of those 28 days that we will be ready to come back.

“We’ll look where we are at the end of that spell, to see where we are with the team, and whether we need to change things around.

“We won’t be letting anyone go who is scoring points, but the presence of Nicolai gives us options going forwards.”

Whilst disappointed with the home defeat to Edinburgh, Godfrey insists there is still plenty of time to pick up sufficient points to ensure the Scorpions land one of spots in the Premier League play-offs.

“I’m not fazed, despite our home defeat to Edinburgh”, he says. “I’m still positive, that we have time to get it right this season.

“We did have to do something. Neither guests nor rider replacement were working to consistently replace Anders and we have too many meetings in May, to continue with facilities which weren’t doing the job for us.

“Nicolai is a quality rider and he can help us turn things around. He’s a lightning starter. He was here last year, so he won’t need any time to get dialled into his home track this time around.

“We’ve lost points at home, and we’ll be looking to pick up points away; we are already targeting our visit to Sheffield on May 15 as an away meeting we can win”, Godfrey concludes.