Ipswich Witches director of speedway Chris Louis has been scuppered in his attempts to make changes at the Suffolk club.
Louis wanted to ‘change the balance of the side’, by parting company with Justin Sedgmen and Connor Mountain. However, his plans have not come to fruition.
In describing what he called ‘the hardest few days in speedway I’ve had’, Louis had to tell both Sedgmen and Mountain the Witches no longer required their services today, before re-instating them both hours later.
“I had proposals to make team changes but they have rightly not been approved,” Louis said.
“I felt Justin (Sedgmen) hasn’t been doing quite was expected of him and I think he knows that too.
“Ritchie Hawkins, as team boss, and me as promoter put our heart and soul into the club and we only want what’s best.
“With a transfer deadline looming as it has this weekend, we needed to make decisions and to change the balance of the side was the decision we wanted to make.
“Our proposals haven’t been accepted though, so I went back to both riders to ask them to stay.
“All I can say is that it speaks volumes for the club and the two riders that both agreed, straightaway to keep racing and giving their best for the Witches.
“In a strange way, this may well have a very positive effect on us and I’m very proud of both riders that they feel strongly enough about the club to stay.
“I’ve had an open discussion with Justin about going forward which I think has been of huge benefit to him, me and the club.”
The Witches lost their first home league meeting of the season on Thursday and Louis admits it has suddenly put added pressure around the Foxhall club.
“We were going along nicely and now that one defeat has just made us look over our shoulders and it made me and Ritchie look at our team plans,” he said.
“Phoning Connor to say he was dropped was the toughest phone call I have had to make, he’s done so little wrong. It’s been the hardest few days in speedway I’ve had to be honest.
“But it’s happened now. We move on and I know both Justin and Connor are 100% on board.”
The Witches’ meeting at Glasgow today was postponed because of a poor forecast. The Witches entertain Glasgow on Thursday at Foxhall.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here