Eagles claim away win at Wolves
Eastbourne Eagles took all three Elite League points with a 48- 45 success in a close-run encounter at Wolverhampton last night.
Scott Nicholls, Edward Kennett and Lee Richardson put Team GB’s disappointing Speedway World Cup campaign behind them with some fine scores and Eagles resisted a late Wolves revival to take the spoils.
The Eagles began the evening in perfect style with Nicholls and Lewis Bridger taking a 5-1 in the opening heat over home skipper Freddie Lindgren before the sides swapped the lead over the next few heats.
Kennett made several flying starts on his way to three consecutive wins but Wolves battled hard until another Eagles 5-1 in heat eight from Bridger and impressive reserve Simon Gustafsson put them six points ahead.
Mechanical problems for Wolves reserves Kenneth Hansen and Nicolai Klindt allowed Eastbourne to build a ten-point advantage but heat 12 saw the lead cut to three points when Niels Kristian Iversen won his tactical ride as Richardson fell on the final turn.
Cameron Woodward tangled with Hansen in heat seven, and the pair clashed again in the penultimate race with Woodward hitting the deck.
Referee Ronnie Allan adjudged Hansen to be at fault, much to the anger of the home fans, and his exclusion allowed Gustafsson and Woodward to score a 5-1 over Klindt in the re-run and seal the league points.
Kennett’s unbeaten run was ended by a last place in heat 13.
WOLVES:
F Lindgren 1-2-3-3-3 = 12; A Dryml 0-0-1-F = 1; N K Iversen 3-3-1*- 6^-1 = 14+1; C Hefenbrock rider replacement; D Howe 2-2-1-1 = 6; K Hansen 3-1-R-1*-2-M-FX = 7+1; N Klindt 2*-R-R-R-2*-1 = 5+2.
EAGLES:
S Nicholls 3-2-2*-2-2 = 11+1; L Bridger 2*-1*-3-3 = 9+2; L Richardson 2-3-2-FX = 7; C Woodward 0-FX-1*-2* = 3+2; E Kennett 3-3-3-0-0 = 9; S Gustafsson 0-1-2*-1-3 = 7+1; J Brundle 1-1-0 = 2.
Dugard remains upbeat
By Brian Owen »
Bob Dugard insists his season back at the helm has lived up to all expectations, despite Eastbourne's faltering title bid.
Eagles are fighting against the odds for the fourth and last play-off spot in the Elite League after winning just one of their last ten away meetings.
That is not quite what was expected when the season started or even before that when Dugard and co-promoter Martrin Hagon sat alongside star signings Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson at a packed pre-season fans forum.
There was no doubt then that the league title and an unbeaten home record were very much in the club's sights.
Asked this week if he was disappointed how things had unfolded so far, Dugard said: "No, I've been pleased but I feel we have been a bit unlucky.
"We could have had a couple more away wins and that would have put us right up there. The one which sticks out in the memory is when we were winning by ten at Lakeside and let it slip away. We should have won at Belle Vue as well.
"The season has lived up to my expectations apart from those silly slip-ups. Some of it has been beyond our control, because of international fixtures. To lose a rider like Simon Gustafsson to an international event hurts us. He is not a heat leader but he scores some crucial points.
"We have lost four or six points and had to bring in a rider who has scored nothing. That makes a big difference."
Dugard was in the shadows in recent seasons, looked upon largely as the man on the tractor as Jon Cook and Bob Brimson enjoyed high-profile roles.
The veteran promoter has been more prominent after stepping in with Hagon last winter to ensure the club remained in the Elite League.
Dugard said: "Martin and I are equal partners and I've enjoyed it. Martin is very involved in the junior side of things, which is good.
"I haven't really got the time for that, and remember I've just turned 66. The improvement with the juniors and in the second half is totally down to Martin Hagon and my son Martin and their enthusiasm.
"Martin (Hagon) went to Rye House to support our youngsters on Saturday rather than watch the World Cup on television.
"That is his enthusiasm and it will pay dividends, though not for probably four or five years."
If Eagles are underdogs for the league, they must have a decent chance in the Knockout Cup.
The Sussex side clash with rivals Lakeside in the semis while Poole will be expected to see off Coventry in the the other tie.
It now seems the home leg against the Hammers will, as first advertised, take place on Saturday, August 9.
Both teams had looked to switch the match to another date due to the final of the Swedish Championship on the same day.
Four hours of telephone conversations between the clubs failed to come up with a solution.
Dugard said: "I think we have a real shout in the Knockout Cup. We have got to run on August 9. It's the only one we can do, although we have no real adequate replacement for Simon Gustafsson.
"Lakeside will be without Andreas Jonsson and Jonas Davidsson but I would say they would suffer less than us. Eastbourne is not Jonsson's favourite track and they could use Leigh Adams or whoever as guest."
Eagles trio miss out with GB
Great Britain's World Cup hopes are over after they finished third in a four-team race-off at Vojens, Denmark tonight, despite nine points from a possible 18 by Eastbourne's Scott Nicholls.
Fellow Eagles Lee Richardson and Edward Kennett added four and three points respectively, each from four rides. Teenage debutant Tai Woffinden was a big hit with nine points from six outings as the Brits missed out on a place in Saturday's final.
Scores: Sweden 53, Poland 50 (both qualify), Great Britain 36, Russia 17.
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BELLE VUE are still considering their options for new signings after learning that injured duo Steve Boxall and Lukasz Jankowski have now been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Promoter David Gordon said: "It is disappointing for Lukasz, Steve and us as a club but it seems the right thing to do so they can get their careers back on track next season.
"We will continue to trawl the transfer market to see what develops in terms of bringing in replacements."
COVENTRY were indebted to No.8 Ben Barker for a 12 (paid 15) score which helped them overcome an early twelve-point deficit to beat Swindon 52-41 and move off the bottom of the table.
Barker said: "It was special for me to do that in the Elite League, and I was on a high at the end of the meeting.
"When we were twelve points down I thought 'Oaksey's (Peter Oakes) not going to be very happy here' but we all realised what had to be done."
EASTBOURNE'S teenage reserve Simon Gustafsson feels his gating is improving in consistency, which should help his improvement over the second half of the season.
Gustafsson said: "Gating has been a problem for a while but my starts are getting better and I'm riding faster now.
"I think you get more aggressive if you know you can beat a man going into the first corner. It's down to confidence."
IPSWICH rider/manager Chris Louis believes that with matches in hand a top two finish in the Elite League is still well within the Witches' grasp.
Louis said: "Historically finishing third or fourth does not mean a final play-off place, and with Poole and Swindon setting a fast pace we have some catching up to do.
"But we have proved already that we can string wins together and we will be looking to do it again."
LAKESIDE star Jonas Davidsson is targeting a full-time place in the Grand Prix next season - and showed his credentials in this week's World Cup event at Coventry.
Davidsson said: "The Final is still a long way off, but I am in the meeting and that means I have a chance of finishing in the top three, just like everyone else.
"It is going to be tough but I am mixing it with the top guys every Tuesday night in Sweden and I was happy with the way I performed at Gothenburg. I have also started scoring some good points in Britain as well."
PETERBOROUGH co-promoter and commercial director Mick Bratley has stepped down from his roles with the club, although he is expected to continue his close management role with present Panthers captain Hans Andersen.
Bratley said: "I have worked really hard for the current owner of the club and I am
extremely proud of my efforts. Peterborough Speedway now has a continuous rich vein of commercial sponsorship coming into the club for which it is also very reliant upon.
"I've enjoyed my time and I would like to particularly thank the many people behind the scenes who tirelessly keep the club running."
POOLE returnee Magnus Zetterstrom says he is relishing his latest spell with the Wimborne Road club, who he captained to the Elite League title back in 2004.
Zetterstrom said: "I've done over and above what I'm meant to do as a No.2. It's always great to do well and speedway's always easier when you're winning.
"We're not going to get carried away now we're top of the league though because there's still a long way to go."
SWINDON have made a change at No.8 by signing Joel Parsons in place of the injured Cory Gathercole to give them added cover at reserve with Seb Alden now out for the season.
Co-owner Gary Patchett said: "The injury to Cory means that we were vulnerable as a team without a designated No.8 rider. Whilst we are actively seeking replacements for Seb, it is good to know we can rely on Joel, rather than calling on guest replacements.
"This gives the club added stability during the late-July, early-August schedule, and we're confident Joel will perform well when called upon."
WOLVERHAMPTON owner Chris Van Straaten is warning his side to expect a tough test fter the World Cup break when Eastbourne visit Monmore Green on Monday.
He said: “It's going to be hard. Eastbourne seem to have a team packed with Monmore Green specialists so it should be a cracking meeting and we're all looking forward to it.
"Some of the boys have been in World Cup action, others have taken a break. Hopefully we will resume on Monday and give us all a boost for the rest of the season."
Cam knows score as Eagles sting Bees
STAND-IN skipper Cameron Woodward admitted he had to keep an eye on the scoreboard for a change after leading Eastbourne Eagles to another home win.
The Arlington club battled to beat Coventry Bees 50-40 in an entertaining Elite League clash between two makeshift teams.
Woodward took over the captaincy as senior Eastbourne rider but struggled early on to cope with a track which was grippier than most riders expected.
The Aussie makes no secret of the fact he does not usually look at the overall score when he is having a bad time, preferring to get his own game right.
But he had to break that habit this time as his side, having led 31-23, saw their lead pegged back to four points going into the last three races.
A 4-2 involving guest Adam Shields and reserve Simon Gustafsson in heat 13 eased nerves.
Victory was secured in the next race as Gustafsson made a superb start off gate one and Woodward went flying outside him for a decisive 5-1.
The first-time skipper did not seem to know what to do when he won the toss for choice of starting gates before the meeting. But he gradually settled into the role.
He said: "Captaincy? It's a bit of responsibility, I suppose.
"I had to look at the scoreboard a few times and it was getting a bit close. I am still learning and I made a few mistakes but I encouraged the boys like I always do.
"I struggled because I had an engine softened for a slick track but the track was actually quite heavy.
"I was always positive we were going to win, though. It was just closer than I thought it would be."
Woodward was the last man standing from the top fives of either side in what turned into something of an all-star meeting. Coventry were already due to arrive without four of their main body due to injuries to Chris Harris and Billy Janniro and GP qualifying meetings for Rory Schlein and Simon Stead.
When Oliver Allen was injured on Friday night racing against Poole, it meant the Bees' top five was made up of four guests and rider-replacement.
Eagles were already missing Lee Richardson and Edward Kennett to GP commitments. Scott Nicholls then had to pull out through injury.
When another rollercoaster night for Lewis Bridger, who was within a second of the new track record in winning heat one, ended in a crash with Steve Johnston, Woodward was the last top-five man from either club still in action.
Step forward Gustafsson, who took Bridger's r/r outing in heat 13 and clinched the 4-2 advantage which left Eagles on the brink of victory.
In fact, it could have been better because he was on a paid-win before being passed by Henning Bager on the last lap.
The young Swede's impressive form, especially off the start, will be Eagles' biggest plus from this somewhat unusual meeting as they head for a two-week break enforced by the World Cup.
Team boss Trevor Geer said: "Simon did a good job for us. He is more aggressive in his riding now and he is all the better for it.
"It was a good meeting. You would rather have something like that than a walkover win."
Eagles got good service from their guests. Bjarne Pedersen looked terrific in winning his first three rides but was then beaten three times by Bees' stand-in Freddie Lindgren, who was flying by the end of the meeting.
Shields endeared himself to the home public too, declaring Arlington as his favourite track and then only being denied what looked a certain maximum when Chris Schramm popped out of the gate in heat 11 and held off a stern attack from the Aussie.
Eagles enjoy another win
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles withstood a spirited Coventry rally tonight to make it six home wins in a row.
Eagles, helped by guests Adam Shields and Bjarne Pedersen, beat the much-changed Bees 50-40 in Elite League action at Arlington.
Shields, though, led a 4-2 in heat 14 and a 5-1 from skipper-for-the-night Cameron Woodward and Simon Gustafsson finished the job.
Shields finished with paid-14 from five rides, suffering just one shock defeat to Chris Schramm.
Gustafsson shone at reserve with paid-nine from six races.
Pedersen scored 15 from six for Eagles while Freddie Lindgren shone for Bees with 14 (6).
Scott Nicholls was ruled out of the meeting by his shoulder injury while Coventry arrived without any of the usual top five due to injury and GP commitments.
Meanwhile, Lee Richardson reached the final of the qualifying series for next year's GP series when he came through a semi at Terenzano, Italy, tonight, scoring 12 points from five rides.
Edward Kennett narrowly missed a place in the qualifying final after scoring eight points in the other semi at Motala, good enough for tenth place. He was just one point off the qualification places.
Brundle wins personal dual
By Brian Owen
James Brundle has revealed the extra motivation that fired him to a best-ever paid-ten for Eastbourne.
The rookie No. 7 admits he badly wanted to prove he was a better signing than opposite number Jonas Raun.
Brundle certainly did that, going close to a paid maximum from his four programmed rides before, to cheers around the stadium, getting the call for heat 15.
Meanwhile Raun ended up with one point from seven rides.
Brundle's score was some haul for the very last rider to be signed by an Elite League club going into this season.
He was picked up by Eagles after an eventful weekend in the run-up to the campaign back in March.
This was just after the Arlington club had realised Ricky Wells would not fit into their plans.
Raun was lined up as an exciting replacement and described as Sweden's answer to Lewis Bridger.
It was somewhat ironic when he announced he could not come to England after all because of off-track problems back home - at the same time as Bridger's assault charge came to light.
So Brundle was in. And, though there have been tough times since then for the plasterer from Norfolk, his endeavour has never been in doubt.
The pay-off came last Sunday with that crowd-pleasing pass inside Charlie Gjedde as the Dane eased just a little too wide at the end of heat 12, lap one.
Brundle said: "I needed a good meeting. I wanted to prove I was a better signing than Jonas Raun. I've always had that in my mind.
"I needed to build my confidence. That should set the ball rolling and get me scoring heavily at home and hopefully better away.
"I know I was a replacement signing for Raun. I was second choice. I wanted to prove I should have been first choice and I'm worthy of having the seven spot here.
"I love it down here and don't want to leave. I feel like I'm definitely getting there now. I had a bit of a slip-up in my second ride and I wanted to get something out of that.
"Kev Doolan's a Premier League rival from King's Lynn so I wanted to beat him, but he's a good lad."
Instead, Doolan was the only Belle Vue rider to beat Brundle in his programmed rides, though he also ran a spirited last place in the nominated race behind Doolan again and Gjedde.
Brundle said: "It would have been nice to have finished it on a maximum. I probably wouldn't have done heat 15 then.
"Fair enough, it's an experience and I'm glad I did it. Once I heard the crowd I thought I'd go out and give it a go.
"I was slow off the start, which didn't help me. I tried to make a smart first corner and cut back but Gjedde was there so I was blocked.
"As soon as I went wide I got filled with dust. I couldn't see where I was going and I couldn't see the fence."
Team manager Trevor Geer admitted there was some hesitation before Brundle accepted his heat 15 ride.
Geer said: "At first he told me he was happy with ten from four and he'd leave it at that.
"Two minutes later he came back to me and said 'I'm up for it'.
"He deserved to go out there. It's not often a reserve qualifies from his programmed rides. He has had to work hard on his speedway but he is a good team man and he gets on with everybody."
It was a good day for Brundle and fellow reserve Simon Gustafsson against an admittedly weak Belle Vue line-up, Jason Crump excepted.
Brundle did not come up against Crump but he beat Raun three times, Nick Simmons twice, Billy Forsberg and Gjedde for his points.
Gustafsson picked off Raun twice, Simmons and Forsberg in his paid six from four.
Along the way, the home reserves enjoyed a rare 5-1 to give their team a lead they would never lose following the opening-race 3-3.
Geer said: "When I looked at what they were up against I was banking on a 5-1 from heat two."
Kennett fast track to GP date
By Brian Owen
Edward Kennett has revealed how he has let his back-up crew take the strain as he sets out on the next step of his Grand Prix ambitions.
The 21-year-old Eastbourne Eagles rider is in action at Motala in Sweden this afternoon as he chases a regular GP spot in next year's series.
Kennett impressed most observers with his efforts in last Saturday's British GP in Cardiff, where he rode as the wild card entry.
That sort of occasion could be a regular thing in his diary if he gets through today's meeting, then finishes in the top three in the qualifying final at Zielona Gora, Poland on September 14.
Hence the need for some rest on the way to Sweden.
Kennett, who misses Eagles' match at home to Coventry in the Elite League tonight (7.30pm), said: "It's an 18-hour drive each way to Motala.
"My dad (Dave) and my mechanic (Chris Geer) went out in the van but I flew out yesterday.
"I've never been to Motala but we had a look at practice.
"l'll give it a go. If I can make five starts I could get five wins.
"I'm looking at the next couple of years to get into the GPs. Next year would be great but I've got time yet."
Kennett has not had chance to watch replays of his efforts at the Millennium Stadium, though he admitted: "I'd like to have a look at it again.
"A lot of people seemed pleased with how I did. I know my family were really happy."
Kennett admits he was disappointed to be left out of Great Britain's opening World Cup qualifying meeting at Coventry, a decision taken by national team manager Jim Lynch before the Cardiff GP.
A good performance today, though, can help clinch his place in the race-off and/or final, both at Vojens in Denmark.
Eagles captain Lee Richardson will tune up for the World Cup by tackling his GP qualifier at Terenzano in Italy, then trekking north by road overnight to race in Poland tomorrow.
Richardson is also out of the Coventry meeting and it now seems almost certain Scott Nicholls will be absent as he recovers from a shoulder injury he suffered in Sweden on Tuesday.
Eagles expect to use rider-replacement for their top scorer, which increases the need for guests Bjarne Pedersen and Adam Shields to be firing if they are to head-off any chance of a third home defeat of the season.
Coventry have brought in their former rider Steve Johnston, now Ipswich skipper, and Henning Bager as guests to complete their line-up tonight.
They operate rider-replacement for Chris Harris and had already hired Freddie Lindgren as a guest.
The Bees are missing injured Billy Janniro plus GP hopefuls Simon Stead and Rory Schlein.
Their injury woes potentially increased last night when Ollie Allen left the action early after falling in a home defeat to Poole.
Nicholls' likely absence means Cameron Woodward will be the senior genuine Eagle in the line-up.
The Aussie raced in Sweden on Thursday, scoring a disappointing 4+1 (5) for Valsarna as they lost 56-40 at home to Ornana in the second-tier Allsvenskan.
Eagles youngster Lewis Bridger was in action at Lakeside last night, guesting for Belle Vue.
He beat home track specialist Leigh Lanham to third place in heat one and then had a spectacular win over Shields and Joonas Kylmakorpi before going off the boil in his later races.
Bridger finished with five points from as many rides as Lakeside were initially forced to work for an eventually comfortable 54-39 success. Jason Crump scored 20 from six heats, including a double points win, for the Aces.
Nicholls hoping to sting Bees
Scott Nicholls admits he would love to beat injury and ride against the club who showed him the door.
The Eastbourne Eagles top scorer is struggling with a shoulder problem and could join a long list of absentees on either side as champions Coventry Bees visit Arlington on Saturday (7.30).
If he beats the separated right shoulder he suffered in a crash in Sweden on Tuesday, the Team GB captain will not lack motivation to put one over his old team for the second time this season. The top scoring rider in the Elite League led Coventry to a clean sweep of domestic honours last year, then found he was one of the men to go when a reduced points limit meant the team had to be rebuilt.
Eastbourne moved in to take Nicholls on loan and he has been a big favourite around the Arlington terraces since race one back in March.
As luck, or careful scheduling by those in high places, would have it, Eagles were sent to Coventry for their first away meeting of the league season, live on Sky Sports.
Nicholls won his first four races that night as Eastbourne scored an impressive win.
Both teams have under-achieved since then, with Bees' decision to axe Nicholls and keep Chris Bomber' Harris and Aussie Rory Schlein, looking more and more questionable.
Nicholls has clearly got the upper hand over Harris, having beaten his British rival in seven of their last eight head-to-heads in Grand Prix and left him way behind in the league averages.
But the Eagles star still has a point to prove which explains why he would love to be there tomorrow, even though Harris is absent thanks to a smash at the Millennium Stadium Nicholls said: "I enjoy racing. I don't get paid when I'm off and I've got a mortgage to pay and a living to earn.
"I enjoy my job and I'm enjoying Eastbourne and the fact it's against Coventry is an added bonus.
"The principles of what happened there left a sour taste. That's nothing against Coventry as a club. If Eastbourne had done that I'd say the same about them.
"I've made it perfectly clear I didn't fall out with the majority of people at Coventry.
"There are two people there who I thought were deceitful and two-faced.
"They weren't straight with me and I've made it perfectly clear to those people how I felt.
"It's not the older people. I've not fallen out with them.
"I still get on very well with (co-promoter) Colin Pratt and (former chief executive) Avtar Sandhu.
"Coventry felt they could build a stronger team without me and in a way I can understand that because my average was higher than Bomber's.
"It's the way it was done. I thought I had a team place, then I was told I didn't."
In fact, as looked likely on that opening Monday night at Brandon, Nicholls' move has been Eastbourne's gain and Coventry's loss.
A 63-29 mauling at Lakeside on Monday left Bees in the relegation play-off zone, though tomorrow's meeting has been rendered something of a lottery due to the ad-hoc nature of both lines-ups.
Lee Richardson and Edward Kennett are both away at GP qualifiers, as are Schlein and Simon Stead of Coventry.
Harris and Arlington specialist Billy Janniro are out injured and there must be a chance Nicholls could join them.
He could leave a decision as late as tomorrow morning but admitted: "It's not looking good.
"I've been told the harder I work the better it will get so that's what I'll do
Nicholls makes late decision
Injured Scott Nicholls could make a last-minute decision on whether to race for Eastbourne.
The Eagles star damaged his right shoulder in Sweden on Tuesday night.
He is undergoing treatment in an attempt to face his parent club Coventry at Arlington on Saturday.
Nicholls said: "The shoulder is stiff and sore and I can barely lift my arm at times. I've been told to try and use it as much as I can.
"I want to ride and I've spoken to Martin Hagon at Eastbourne. I'll leave it until Friday or maybe even Saturday to make a decision but it doesn't look good."
Eagles wait on injured Scott
Eastbourne Eagles are hopeful top scorer Scott Nicholls will be fit to face his parent club on Saturday.
Nicholls is a doubt for the home clash against Coventry after suffering a shoulder injury riding in Sweden last night.
He had treatment today back in England and could feature at Arlington.
Eagles co-promoter Martin Hagon said: "We are hopeful but we will know for sure later in the week."
Scott has separated his shoulder and apparently he could ride now but it would really hurt."
Nicholls would love to impress against Coventry, the club he led to the treble last season but who then controversially let him go out on loan when the Elite League points limit was reduced.
Dugard blasts Grand Prix track
Track specialist Bob Dugard has warned a rider could be killed or seriously injured at speedway's most high-profile meeting.
Dugard has described the track used for Saturday's British GP, which attracted 45,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium, as a disgrace.
Some of the top riders in the world struggled desperately to cling on to their 500cc motorbikes or were thrown badly off course as ruts quickly developed in the temporary circuit.
There were similar problems last year but criticism led by Nicki Pedersen was overshadowed by home delight as Chris Harris won the final.
This year's GP was littered with near misses, notably when Jason Crump suddenly veered sideways yards from the finish line and was almost overtaken, or taken out, by the hotly pursuing Scott Nicholls.
Dugard, who prepares the highly praised circuit at Arlington Stadium said: "The track was an absolute disgrace.
"I think if that had been any other meeting the riders would have refused to go back out after a few heats. They are trying to put too much on to the surface at once, trying to get too deep a level.
"You need to use mature shale. They have tried and failed miserably to get a good track there for eight years now.
"They were quite lucky not to get a really serious injury or even a fatality.
"If Scott had run into Crumpy or, even worse, if Andreas Jonsson had hit Hans Andersen when he was facing the wrong way, it would have been very serious. It's not good enough. Pride makes the riders go out there and do it. Most track people take safety very seriously."
Four speedway GPs are now staged on temporary tracks in stadia larger than those routinely used for league speedway. Retractable roofs at venues like Cardiff and Parken in Copenhagen mean fans can travel with no fear of the meeting being called off.
Nicholls remains defiant
Scott Nicholls insists he is closing in on an elusive Grand Prix win after his final heartbreak in Cardiff.
The Eastbourne Eagles No. 1 reached only his eighth final in 62 GPs, and his first at the Millennium Stadium, much to the delight of a 45,000 crowd in Cardiff.
But his challenge ended in anti-climax when he broke the tapes at the start and was excluded from a final eventually won by Jason Crump.
Nicholls helped Eagles beat Belle Vue 56-37 in Elite League action yesterday, despite another new Arlington track record for Aces star Crump in heat one.
But that GP near miss will haunt Eastbourne's top scorer as he aims for a top-eight finish to guarantee his participation in neat year's series.
Nicholls said: "I really felt I was up there this time. I was as quick as anybody but I'll take the positives.
"I got into the final, I was on the pace.
"It's such a huge letdown when you touch the tapes.
"If I had done four laps and come last I would have known I had given it everything I had.
"But it's done now. I will get a win this year. I was hoping it would be Cardiff but I just have to look at the next GP and see if we get it there."
Crump underlined why he is re-emerging as a serious threat to world champion Nicki Pedersen as he led the Aces' resistance yesterday.
He took heat one in 55.8secs, one-tenth inside the track record he had set himself in April, and went on to win four out of four, one of them for double points.
The previous record, held by Tony Rickardsson, stood for five years.
A long, drawn-out meeting in dry, dusty conditions gradually developed into a question of who would deny Crump his maximum as Eagles took control.
The answer was nobody, although Lee Richardson provided a scare when he outgated him in heat five, only to be caught going into the third bend.
The home skipper, on the outside of Crump, went hurtling into the air fence in the process and was excluded by referee Christina Turnbull, who did not have a great view from the home straight.
Crump and Charlie Gjedde went back out for an easy 5-1 over Cameron Woodward which cut the home lead to two points.
Nicholls and Bridger replied immediately with a comfortable maximum over guest Kevin Doolan and Jonas Raun as they hosts headed towards a fifth successive home win.
Bridger, Edward Kennett and Nicholls were all unbeaten by Belle Vue riders other than Crump.
Ride of the day, though, came from No. 7 James Brundle as he swept inside Gjedde off bend four in heat 12 to claim a paid win which delighted the home fans.
That was one of three 5-1s featuring Brundle. His first was with Simon Gustafsson in heat two as the home reserves enjoyed a morale-boosting afternoon.
Brundle will have relished the cheers which greeted his call for a first ever heat 15 outing, a race for which Crump did not appear.
Gustafsson was doing wheelies too as he helped Woodward to a heat-14 5-1.
That sort of contribution from reserve will be key to helping Eagles contend for silverware.
Nicholls said: "We've struggled in heat two but the reserves are settling down a bit, getting a bit of confidence and that's what we need.
"We want to try to support and encourage team-mates in the right way."
Kennett left out by GB
Great Britain will leave Edward Kennett out of their World Cup opener at Coventry.
Manager Jim Lynch has opted to go for home track specialists at Brandon next Monday.
Lynch, however, is likely to call in the Eastbourne rider should the Brits progress to the race-off and/or final, both at Vojens in Denmark.
The GB boss was impressed with some facets of Kennett's display, notably his gating, as the 21-year-old Eagles favourite scored four points on his full GP debut at Cardiff.
He said: "It was terrific experience for Eddie and certainly in his last two rides he was in there.
"He led one for two laps. That's good stuff, you know "He gates all right, there's no problem there. He's coming on great."
The GB line-ups will be announced on Sky Sports tonight.
Asked if Kennett was in his plans, Lynch replied: "Not at Coventry but certainly he has a very good chance of being in Denmark.
"At Coventry you have really got to go for riders who are there every week. When you've got people like (Coventry riders) Ollie Allen and Simon Stead it makes more sense.
"However, Vojens is a different matter altogether. Edward has had a fantastic season and when he listens to it on Monday night he'll find out he is definitely in my plans."
Kennett pipped Freddie Lindgren for second place in his final ride.
He gave home fans plenty to cheer in his five races but was unable to turn some promising positions into big points hauls, notably when he was passed by Niels Kristian Iversen and Andreas Jonsson having led for two laps.
Kennett said: "I enjoyed it. I felt really relaxed in the last couple of rides. I was just telling myself to make starts and I was pretty happy."
Kennett finds the right Geer as he goes for GP glory
Chris Geer realised a speedway riding career was not for him when he used to go racing with his friend from up the road.
So he hung up his kevlars, picked up the spanners and started working as a mechanic.
Now both he and his childhood mate, a certain Edward Kennett, are hoping that decision pays off as they tackle their most high-profile challenge in the sport to date.
Kennett, 21, is booked for at least five rides as a wild card at the British GP, likely to attract about 45,000 noisy fans to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
It is a first for the Eastbourne Eagles star, who has spent three previous GPs as reserve hoping to get a last-minute call for a race if any of the first-choice riders have had to pull out.
Helping behind the scenes to get everything just right will be Geer, two years his senior and his right hand man at tracks across the Elite League.
Although not expected to challenge the likes of Nicki Pedersen, Leigh Adams or possibly even Eastbourne colleague Scott Nicholls for the main prize, there is every chance in-form Kennett could pop out of the starting gate and score the heat win which would bring the house down.
Geer reckons he has the temperament and talent to do just that. And he should know given the pair go back a long, long way.
Both were brought up in Sussex speedway families - Chris is son of Eagles team boss Trevor while Edward's dad Dave was also an Eagles star - so it was inevitable they would find themselves on two wheels.
Geer junior said: "I've grown up with Edward. He only lives around the corner.
"We used to ride out at the junior tracks at Sittingbourne and Eastbourne when we were little but I kept crashing and he didn't.
"I enjoy being a mechanic and I earn more money doing it.
"It's a full-time job. You can have a guest booking anytime so everything has always got to be ready.
"I'll help Simon Gustafsson as well if he needs it and I help a few juniors. If anyone needs a hand I'm always here.
"If Ed can make starts at Cardiff he will make life easier but I believe he can go out there with the big boys and give it a good'un in the first corner.
"If he thinks I can do this' then he will. It's all up to him on the day. I'll do what I can."
Kennett has had just one Cardiff heat so far, when he claimed third place off Greg Hancock in 2005.
Other than that, it has been a case of prepare, practise, get the big introduction on centre green, then wait. In vain. Geer admitted: "When you're reserve you can be out any time. If someone breaks down or touches the tapes, you've got two minutes to get out there.
"I know it sounds bad but last year we were just waiting for someone to touch the tapes and be excluded.
"What we've been waiting for is this wild card.
"We know what set-up we are going with. We know what bikes. Let's just hope it all works.
"Eastbourne is tight and Cardiff gives you more room to make manoeuvres. There are a few more lines as well. He can handle it.
"I just hope he does not put too much pressure on himself or takes too much pressure from what is being written and said about him. I hope he just stays calm."
Eagles rider Cameron Woodward will join the Kennett crew as No. 2 mechanic.
Geer, though, is the old hand of the team. He worked the GP circuit in Mark Loram's team as assistant to Norrie Allan, who now spanners for last year's Cardiff winner Chris Harris.
Loram was the last British world champion back in 2000 and Geer said: "I loved working with him "If he had a bad result he would blame himself, he would never turn around and blame us.
"The only man I know who would help us at Cardiff, because normally you are there for yourself, is Norrie Allan.
"He will always give us a hand. Ed gets on really well with Bomber (Harris) as well so we should be all right."
Kennett and Nicholls will get a warm welcome back home when Eagles host Belle Vue in the Elite League on Sunday (3.30).
Form suggests there is more chance of the Aces' Jason Crump going to Arlington fresh from Cardiff success. But two mates from East Sussex will relish their big day.
Scott: I can cope with the Grand Prix pressure By Brian Owen
Scott Nicholls insists he has learned to cope with the most intense media spotlight in British speedway.
The Eastbourne Eagles No. 1 will be the man under most scrutiny when about 45,000 fans and a live Sky Sports audience watch the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.
Nicholls knows what it is all about. TV cameras right in your face during the national anthem, deafening cheers and airhorn blasts whenever your name is announced, constant questions about whether this will be the year.
The Great Britain captain has yet to win a GP in 60 attempts and saw compatriot Chris Harris steal his thunder when he grabbed top spot in Cardiff last year.
Nicholls is ready to live with the attention as he joins Harris and wild card Edward Kennett as home hopefuls against the likes of world champion Nicki Pedersen and 2006 Cardiff winner Jason Crump.
Asked about the media glare, Nicholls said: "You could do without it in some respects but you accept it is the British Grand Prix, it's the biggest one on the calendar. "Without the media and without Sky TV we wouldn't be in the position we are in so you accept it and get on with it.
"At first I didn't like it but I deal with it differently now and it doesn't concern me.
"You accept it, you do your job, you say your piece and that's it.
"You just take advantage of the fact that all those people are there to support you. 100 per cent."
No British rider has won a GP race in 40 attempts this year but Nicholls has shown signs of improvement lately.
He said: "The last two GPs have been very disappointing because I've come so close.
"I've got great belief in myself, I know I'm capable of doing it and that's why it's more disappointing when you don't get there.
"I've got another seven GPs to put myself up near the top.
"I'm looking at myself and my equipment. It's all stuff that's going to improve my form."
Kennett cool about Grand Prix
Edward
Kennett
insists
he
will
try
to
treat
the
most
high-profile
meeting
of
his
career
like
a
routine
night
at
Arlington.
The
Eastbourne
Eagles
star
rides
his
last
fixture
tonight
before
setting
off
for
Cardiff
and
the
British
Grand
Prix
on
Saturday.
Kennett
is
taking
part
in a
special
farewell
meeting
at
Poole
for
Craig
Boyce,
who
rode
for
the
Pirates
until
last
season.
The
Aussie
now
doubles
up
as
manager
of
his
national
team
and
an
increasingly
in-demand
engine
tuner,
with
Kennett
one
of
the
riders
for
whom
he
works.
More
than
40,000
people
will
be
at
the
GP
but
Kennett
said:
"I
just
want
to
try
and
treat
it
like
a
normal
meeting.
"Obviously
it's
going
to
be a
bit
different
with
so
many
people
there
and
with
the
atmosphere
but
I
want
to
focus
and
try
and
make
the
starts."
Panic
stations
before
Eagles
finish
the
job
By
Brian
Owen
Trevor
Geer
admitted
his
Eastbourne
Eagles
had
to
survive
a
few
moments
of
panic
before
booking
their
Knockout
Cup
semi-final
place.
Eagles
went
through
to a
showdown
with
Lakeside
thanks
to a
20-point
aggregate
win
over
Wolverhampton,
despite
their
52-40
defeat
in
the
second
leg
at
Monmore
Green
last
night.
Wolves'
winning
margin
on
the
night
was
inflated
by a
5-1
in
heat
15
after
Scott
Nicholls
suffered
engine
failure
when
leading.
The
contest
was
over
by
then,
though.
Geer
was
more
alarmed
by
six
opening
heats
which
saw
his
side
go
28-10
adrift
having
used
their
tactical
ride.
That
62-30
buffer
from
Saturday's
home
leg
was
looking
precarious
until
Cameron
Woodward
popped
out
of
the
gate
in
race
seven
for
the
first
of
three
successive
Eastbourne
heat
advantages
The
Eagles
team
manager
said:
"I
was
definitely
panicking
after
six
races.
"Everything
seemed
to
be
going
against
us.
"We
were
making
mistakes
and
when
it
gets
to
four
or
five
races
like
that
people
start
panicking.
"It
was
just
a
matter
of
settling
everybody
down
and
starting
again.
"It
was
comfortable
enough
in
the
end,
though."
Eagles
will
hope
they
have
learned
a
few
lessons
for
next
month's
return
to
Wolves,
which
is
their
next
away
Elite
League
fixture.
Woodward
admitted
the
visitors
struggled
to
fathom
a
track
which
had
plenty
of
dirt
on
it
but
he
said
was
greasy
underneath.
He
added:
"I
know
the
scoreline
wasn't
pretty
at
first
but
we
got
it
right
in
the
end.
"The
track
caught
us
out
a
bit.
It
was
tricky."
Eagles
had
two
5-1s
though
the
first,
with
the
tie
still
in
the
balance,
had
a
lot
of
luck
about
it.
The
good
fortune
did
not
include
Lewis
Bridger's
win.
He
produced
a
great
ride
to
go
all
the
way
outside
and
pass
Kenneth
Hansen
for
his
only
points
of
an
otherwise
poor
night.
But,
as
the
young
Eagle
went
away,
his
opponent's
bike
packed
up
and
Simon
Gustafsson
went
through
for
the
paid
win.
Wolves,
fired
up
by
talk
of
imminent
team
changes,
had
four
5-1s
in
those
alarming
first
six
heats
as
they
reduced
their
imposing
32-point
deficit
from
the
first
leg
to
just
14.
Heat
three
summed
up
that
sorry
opening
as
Lee
Richardson
retired
on
the
second
lap
and
Woodward
trailed
in
30
yards
behind
Niels
Kristian
Iversen
and
Nicolai
Klindt.
Hansen,
who
had
four
lasts
on
Saturday,
was
on
an
unlikely
paid
maximum
after
three
rides
and
Nicholls
was
the
only
Eagle
to
beat
an
opponent
in
the
first
six
heats.
The
Great
Britain
skipper
was
second
to
Ales
Dryml
after
a
slow
start
in
heat
one
and
was
pipped
by
Iversen
as
he
rode
out
a
4-4
in
white
and
black
in
heat
five.
Edward
Kennett
was
in
second
and
looking
to
challenge
Hansen
in
heat
six
only
to
fall
and
gift
the
hosts
another
5-1,
despite
Gustafsson's
spirited
pursuit
of
Dryml.
In
fact,
James
Brundle
was
the
only
Eagles
man
to
make
a
decent
gate
in
that
awful
opening.
Then,
though,
it
all
turned
around
as
Woodward
and
Richardson
got
away
on a
5-1
in a
re-started
heat
seven.
Although
David
Howe
forced
his
way
past
Richardson
and
was
briefly
ahead
of
Woodward,
the
Aussie
found
a
bit
of
drive
out
wide
in
the
nick
of
time
to
secure
his
team's
first
win
of
the
night
and
a
4-2
which
steadied
the
ship.
Kennett
later
ended
Iversen's
maximum
hopes
with
a
mature
ride
to
win
heat
nine.
Then
Nicholls'
first
win
of
the
night,
well
ahead
of
Howe
in
heat
11,
just
about
secured
Eagles'
passage
to
the
semi-finals
as
they
took
a
22-point
aggregate
lead
into
the
last
four
heats.
So a
catastrophe
was
avoided.
But
Eastbourne
will
have
to
improve
on
their
next
visit
if
they
are
to
grab
the
win
they
will
probably
need
in
their
play-off
pursuit.
WOLVERHAMPTON
52
Freddie
Lindgren
rider-replacement
A.Dryml
3,2*,1,3
-9+1
N.K.Iversen
3,3,2,3,1,3
=15
N.Klindt
2,1,R,0
=3+1
D.Howe
1,2*,2,2,0,2*
=9+2
C.Hefenbrock
3,0,1*,3
=7+1
K.Hansen
2*,3,3,R,0,1
=9+1.
EAGLES
40
S.Nicholls
2,4,3,3,R
=12
L.Bridger
0,0,3,0
=3
L.Richardson
R,1,2,2
=5
C.Woodward
1,3,1*,2
=7+1
E.Kennett
0,0,3,2*,1
=6+1
S.Gustafsson
1,1,2*,0
=4+1
J.Brundle
0,1,1,1*
=3+1
New
lease
of
life
for
Scott
Nicholls
By
Brian
Owen
Scott
Nicholls
insists
his
much-debated
move
to
Eastbourne
has
given
him
a
new
lease
of
life
The
Great
Britain
captain
completed
his
first
Eagles
maximum
as
his
side
eased
their
way
towards
a
Knockout
Cup
semi-final
with
Lakeside
Hammers.
Eastbourne
will
take
a
62-30
lead
over
Wolverhampton
from
Saturday's
quarter-final
first
leg
as
they
head
to
the
return
fixture
at
Monmore
Green
tonight
(7.30).
Nicholls
and
skipper
Lee
Richardson
both
completed
comfortable
five-ride
paid
maximums
and
Edward
Kennett
began
the
countdown
to
his
British
GP
appearance
with
four
wins
from
four.
That
Cardiff
date
is
an
exciting
one
for
ever-improving
Kennett
but
it
threatens
to
be a
high-pressure
occasion
for
Nicholls
as
he
looks
to
get
his
international
season
on
course.
Nicholls'
disappointing
hauls
in
the
opening
GPs
led
national
team
boss
Jim
Lynch
to
suggest
he
had
been
unsettled
by
having
to
leave
Coventry
during
the
close
season.
That
comment
brought
a
furious
reaction
from
Eagles
chief
Bob
Dugard
and
subsequent
clarification
from
Lynch.
Meanwhile,
Nicholls
has
let
the
arguments
fly
over
his
head
and
got
on
with
producing
quality
Elite
League
performances
which
make
his
GP
struggles
even
more
mystifying.
If
Nicholls
was
a
footballer,
he
would
probably
have
moved
to
Real
Madrid
at
the
end
of
last
season
having
top
scored
for
the
British
treble
winners.
Instead,
the
points
limit
was
cut
and
Eastbourne
were
the
big
winners
from
Coventry's
contentious
decision
to
show
him
the
door.
He
has
quickly
become
a
big
favourite
among
Eastbourne
fans
with
his
performances
both
home
and
away.
Speaking
after
his
12+3
(5)
full
payday
against
Wolves,
he
declared:
"People
can
say
what
they
want.
"I'm
happy,
I
feel
I'm
riding
well
and
I
don't
see
the
move
has
had
any
impact.
"If
anything
it
has
given
me
another
little
lease
of
life.
I'm
enjoying
it
down
here.
"No
disrespect,
Jim
has
got
his
opinion.
But
I
think
it's
wrong.
"At
the
end
of
the
day
I
ignore
that
rubbish.
I'm
here
to
do
my
job.
I'll
concentrate
on
what
I've
got
to
do
and
let
everyone
else
say
their
opinion."
Nicholls
and
team-mates
certainly
did
their
job
on
Saturday,
through
from
one
to
seven,
against
a
bottom-of-the-table
side
weakened
by
the
absence
of
injured
skipper
Freddie
Lindgren,
who
tends
to
go
well
at
Arlington.
The
hosts
had
13
heat
wins
and
five
5-1s.
Wolves
had
14
last
places
and
forced
four
shared
heats,
though
one
of
those
was
a
4-4
when
Niels-Kristian
Iversen,
going
for
double
points,
finished
second
to
Kennett.
Nicholls
added:
"It
was
a
huge
win.
We
knew
they
were
weaker
without
Freddie
but
in
fairness
I
don't
think
he
could
turn
32
points
around.
We
had
a
very
good
night.
The
track
was
a
bit
slicker
than
usual
and
the
riders
had
a
bit
more
fire
in
their
bellies,
which
was
needed."
Lewis
Bridger
opened
with
two
wins
as
partner
Nicholls
marshalled
matters
just
ahead
of
the
Wolves
pairings.
Simon
Gustafsson
will
have
enjoyed
his
heat
two
win
over
the
relatively
experienced
Christian
Hefenbrock.
Gustafsson
got
to
Arlington
early
for
an
afternoon
practice.
Like
James
Brundle,
the
teenage
Swede
received
good
backing
during
the
meeting
from
home
fans
anxious
to
see
the
reserves
do
well.
Race
of
the
night,
though,
came
from
Nicholls'
British
sidekick
in
Cardiff
as
Kennett
overcame
a
hesitant
start
in
heat
four
to
eventually
battle
past
David
Howe
on
the
inside
at
the
end
of
the
third
lap
having
previously
tried
everything
on
the
outside.
Kennett
said:
"I
didn't
get
the
best
of
starts
and
I
had
to
work
hard
but
I
made
the
ground
up
and
David
left
me a
little
bit
of a
gap.
"I'm
over
the
moon
with
the
max."
Eagles
trio
at
the
max
By
Brian
Owen
Three
Eastbourne
Eagles
riders
completed
maximums
as
their
team
took
a
big
step
towards
a
Knockout
Cup
semi-final
showdown
wth
Lakeside.
Eagles
beat
Wolverhampton
62-30
at
Arlington
to
set
up
what
should
be a
comfortable
quarter-final
second
leg
trip
to
Monmore
Green
on
Monday.
Scott
Nicholls
and
Lee
Richardson
completed
full
paydays
by
scoring
a
heat
15
5-1
to
complete
the
rout.
Nicholls
went
12+3
(5)
for
his
first
Eagles
max
and
Richardson
finished
with
14+1
(5).
Edward
Kennett
won
all
four
of
his
heats.
There
were
two
wins
for
Lewis
Bridger
as
he
scored
nine
points
and
Simon
Gustafsson
took
heat
two
on
his
way
to
6+1
(4).
Eagles
duo
win
in
Poland
Eastbourne
duo
Lee
Richardson
and
Lewis
Bridger
helped
their
Polish
track
to a
fine
away
win
tonight.
Richardson
found
his
form
later
in
the
meeting
to
score
7+1
(6)
as
Czestochowa
won
52-38
at
Zielona
Gora
in
the
Ekstraliga.
Bridger
had
a
second
and
a
last
riding
at
reserve.
Eagles
skipper
Richardson
came
up
with
a
win
and
a
paid-win
in
his
last
two
rides.
He
helped
colleague
Seb
Ulamek
in
the
heat
14
5-1
which
settled
the
contest.
Meanwhile
Eagles'
Scott
Nicholls
opened
with
three
wins
but
then
suffered
two
lasts
as
his
struggling
Rzeszow
team
lost
48-44
at
home
to
Gorzow.
Rzezow
led
35-25
with
just
five
races
remaining.
Gustafsson
asks
for
patience
The
speedway-racing
father
of Simon
Gustafsson
has
urged
Eastbourne
fans to
keep
patience
with
their
teenage
reserve.
But
Henka
Gustafsson,
who
still
rides
with his
18-year-old
son in
the
Swedish
top
flight,
admits
he would
have no
objection
if the
Eagles
No. 6
decided
to give
Elite
League
action a
miss for
a while.
Gustafsson
senior
watched
Eagles'
win over
Lakeside
on
Monday,
in which
Simon
managed
paid
five
from as
many
rides.
He
reckons
travelling
between
England
and
Sweden
is
taking
its toll
on a
rider
who has
been
tipped
for big
things
for some
time
now.
But
he
admits
Simon is
happy to
stick
with
Eagles
for the
rest of
the
season.
Henka,
the
37-year-old
former
Swedish
international,
said: "I
just
think
it's a
lot of
meetings
for him.
"Last
year he
went
over to
do the
British
League
when the
Swedish
League
had
finished.
"To
start
with
this
year it
was just
the
British
League.
Then the
Swedish
League
and
under-21
meetings
came
along.
"I
feel
sometimes
he is a
little
bit
tired
and not
really
focussed.
"Lots
of top
riders,
even
people
like
Nicki
Pedersen
and Tony
Rickardsson,
had a
couple
of years
when
they
struggled
In
England.
"It's
hard to
come in
at 17 or
18 and
start
scoring
points
straight
away.
"You
have a
couple
of bad
meetings
and that
gets in
your
head.
Maybe he
should
have a
few
meetings
in the
lower
division
here in
Sweden,
win some
races
and get
some
confidence.
"He
did that
last
year but
it as
too easy
for him.
I think
he
dropped
three
points
through
the
whole
season.
If he
drops
down for
a couple
of
meetings,
at least
he will
get that
feeling
back for
winning
races.
"But
then
it's
difficult
for him
to find
time to
do that
as well.
"He
will get
a couple
of weeks
to rest
during
the
World
Team Cup
next
month.
He will
do some
practice
as
well."
Henka's
theory
about
fatigue
is
supported
by the
fact his
son's
best
performances
for
Eagles
this
season
came
early in
the
campaign.
It
has been
a
different
story
since
then. He
has
struggled
in the
Elite
League
and
Elitserien
and had
to
settle
for a
reserve
berth at
the
World
Under-21
Championships
final
after
scraping
through
a
race-off
in last
Sunday's
semi at
Rye
House.
He
recently
moved
into his
own
apartment
in
Sweden
and
passed
the
written
part of
his
driving
test
last
Friday,
though
he has
yet to
attempt
the
theory
section.
On-track
woes
continued
on
Tuesday
when
Simon
failed
to score
in three
rides
and
Henka
did
little
better
as their
Indianerna
club
crashed
58-38 at
high-flying
Lejonen.
Simon,
who only
recently
turned
18, was
twice
beaten
by Ricky
Kling,
the man
who also
led him
home in
the
reserves'
race at
Arlington
on
Monday.
Henka
said:
"I'm not
sure
what is
best now
for
Simon.
"Maybe
he
should
take a
couple
of
months
off from
the
British
League
and
concentrate
on
Sweden
and get
some
heat
wins.
"I
don't
think it
would be
wrong if
he
dropped
out for
a while.
"But
it's up
to him.
He wants
to be in
England
even
though
it is a
lot of
meetings.
"When
I came
over to
England
I was 20
and had
already
done the
world
final so
I was a
more
experienced
rider.
It was
easier
for me.
"We
were
talking
about it
after
our
meeting
in
Sweden
on
Tuesday.
We had a
really
bad one,
both him
and me.
"But
he wants
to stick
out in
England
and I'll
support
that."
Eagles
will
hope to
be in
the last
four of
the
Knockout
Cup by
Monday
night as
they
face
home and
away
tussles
