He’s been left ‘sad and disappointed’ but former Ipswich Witches speedway star Leigh Lanham refuses to be bitter towards his home-town club.
He’s been left ‘sad and disappointed’ but former Ipswich Witches speedway star Leigh Lanham refuses to be bitter towards his home-town club.
Lanham, 36, who was skipper of the ‘Sackers’ Witches in 2013 has been told his services are not required next year.
And in the same week Richie Worrall was announced as the new Witches No.1, in a blaze of publicity, Lanham was quietly being told he has no team place at Foxhall Heath next year.
“I’m very disappointed. Sad and disappointed,” Lanham said.
“I put my heart and soul into the team last year. No-one was more upset than I was when it all fell apart at the end.
“I upped my average – only by a bit, but I upped it – and I feel a bit let down to be honest.
“Of course, I’m not stupid, I know these things happen. But it has taken me a long time to win over the Foxhall fans. At last I feel I have done that and now it’s all over.”
Lanham has endured sticky times with Witches fans over the years, many wondering if he could ever be a good scorer at Foxhall.
But he did settle down into a reliable scorer for the side in 2013 and was a highly-respected captain.
Living just a stone’s throw away from the track he was a rider many of the Witches riders looked up to – Lanham’s bikes always immaculately turned out.
“I’m not bitter towards Chris Louis, or the club,” Lanham added.
“But it is still all a bit raw. I have had one or two enquiries from other clubs, let’s hope more come in for me.”
Meanwhile Witches director of speedway Chris Louis admitted: “Leaving Leigh out was not a decision taken lightly.
“He’s passionate about the Witches, professional and I know wherever he ends up he will do a good job.
“But Leigh knows how it works, it’s a numbers game. One of the hardest and most unpleasant things about my job is telling riders we are not keeping them or, as in the case of Kevin Doolan, moving them out half-way through the year.
“As for Leigh, I don’t have a bad word to say about him and I thank him for all his efforts for us.”
Louis is hoping to name more riders soon, as he puts together the Witches side of 2014.
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