IPSWICH Evening Star Witches begin a hectic schedule of four meetings in six days with an Elite League visit to Eastbourne Eagles tonight (start 7.

Elvin King

By ELVIN KING

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches begin a hectic schedule of four meetings in six days with an Elite League visit to Eastbourne Eagles tonight (start 7.30pm).

But they have just as important a date in their calendar next month when a special tribunal will decide whether they will take points from their home 50-43 'defeat' by Swindon Robins on April 14.

The Witches management are adamant that Swindon broke the rules in using Sheffield's Joel Parsons as a guest because his average was too high.

Promoter John Louis said last night: “We have paid £500 for the tribunal to be heard and it will be conducted by the RAC and the ACU.

“I can't say too much more at the moment except that we know the rules were broken.”

And team manager Pete Simmons added: “We have to ask ourselves two questions.

“Is the 2008 Speedway Control Bureau rule book there to be abided by?

“Did Swindon break the rules?

“I believe the answer to both is a most categorical yes.

“Why the decision was made to allow Joel Parsons to ride after quite clearly Swindon had accepted he was ineligible and also had Shaun Tacey booked to ride in his place is quite bizarre.

“We feel we need to take this matter to the highest level possible to highlight the facts and restore some faith in speedway's credibility.”

Witches fans have been inundating Graham Reeve the SCB manager with messages to back-up the club's stance, and the Witches would appreciate more e-mails being sent to scbureau@aol.com, attention Graham Reeve.

With Tobi Kroner riding in a European championship meeting in Hungary, the Witches use the rider replacement facility to cover for him at number one tonight. Every member of the Witches team will be eligible for an extra ride.

Wolverhampton's Fredrik Lindgren has been confirmed as a guest replacement for injured Ipswich number one Chris Louis and he has already chalked up one good score at Arlington this year.

Ipswich ride at Wolves on Monday where they will use Edward Kennett as a guest for Louis and at Poole on Wednesday where they will utilise the rider replacement facility for Louis. Kroner will be back for both meetings, and also in the side that entertains Belle Vue at Foxhall Stadium next Thursday.

For Jarek Hampel in particular it is a busy time with numerous hours likely to be spent in airport lunges as he rode at Foxhall on Thursday was in Poland yesterday, and will be in Eastbourne tonight, Poland tomorrow, Wolves Monday, Sweden Tuesday, Poole Wednesday and then Foxhall Thursday.,

Eastbourne, who lost at home to Poole on Monday and were riding at Lakeside last night (FRI), again use rider replacement to cover for the injured Lee Richardson.

Tonight's line-ups

Eastbourne: S Nicholls, L Bridger, rider replacement, C Woodward, E Kennett, S Gustafsson, N Simmonds.

Ipswich: rider replacement, R Miskowiak, F Lindgren, J Hampel, S Johnston, P Swiderski, C Schramm.