Coventry Bees have issued the following the statement:
| COVENTRY can confirm they will be lodging an appeal against the verdict issued by the Speedway Control Bureau last week. The members present at the meeting on July 9, which discussed the events of the Coventry v Poole fixture on June 1, were: Tony Gillias (SCB Chairman); Dickie Staff (SCB Member - ACU), Peter Gregory (substitute SCB Member - ACU, replacing unavailable Gary Thompson), Alex Harkess (SCB Member - BSPA) and Gordon Pairman (SCB Member - BSPA). Also present were SCB Prime Officer Graham Reeve and Clerk to the Court Mrs Nikki Jamieson. Coventry can also confirm, contrary to a recent press release from Poole, that at no stage were they given the option of requesting the withdrawal of any member of this panel due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. The club was epresented by co-promoters Mick Horton and Neil Watson. The SCB members ruled the Buildbase Bees had been in breach of regulation 4.1.9 during the abandoned meeting against Poole on June 1, stating that the riders had “failed to meet the 2-minute time allowance facility on more than one occasion.” Coventry feel the overall conclusion of the SCB has failed to take into account the full circumstances of the meeting and the roles of key officials on the night, despite the evidence presented, and that the penalty is unjust. Having given the matter due consideration, the club has paid an Appeal fee to the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) in accordance with regulation 3.4.11 . Since the SCB judgement was made public on Thursday July 16, the club has been inundated with messages of support via e-mails and social networks. Several kind messages have been received asking whether any practical help can be given by supporters in respect of the fines issued to the club, Gary Havelock, Chris Harris and Joonas Kylmakorpi. The total fines currently stand at £4,125 - £3,000 issued by the SCB last week in addition to £375 to each of the named riders and team manger on the night. We see this as an opportunity for the entire Coventry Speedway family to come together in a positive fashion: promotion, management, riders and supporters. If you feel able to make a donation to assist the club to cover the costs of the Appeal initially, we would be most grateful; and we would be interested to hear from any supporter(s) who would like to administer this Fund on the club’s behalf. Please contact -email- if you are able to help, and we will be looking to have arrangements in place in time for the home fixture against King’s Lynn on July 31. Should the club then be successful in having the SCB and on-the-night fines rescinded, we would then utilise the money raised by organising free coach travel for supporters to away fixtures in the Elite League play-offs at the end of the season. |