IPSWICH Evening Star Witches could take speedway's governing body in Britain - the ACU - to the High Court.They have hit a brick wall in their appeal against a Speedway Control Bureau ruling that Swindon were correct in using Joel Parsons as a guest in the Elite League fixture at Foxhall Stadium on April 14.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches could take speedway's governing body in Britain - the ACU - to the High Court.

They have hit a brick wall in their appeal against a Speedway Control Bureau ruling that Swindon were correct in using Joel Parsons as a guest in the Elite League fixture at Foxhall Stadium on April 14.

London-based lawyer Horry Money is handling the case for the Witches, and today he accused the ACU of being incompetent.

“In my professional opinion the ACU have been incompetent.

“In their role of speedway's governing body they have not dealt with Ipswich fairly.

“I am still acting for Ipswich on this matter and will be exploring all avenues to rectify this including a judicial review.”

A judicial review would in effect take the case to the High Court for a ruling, but Money feels that Ipswich have no alternative if they are to gain justice.

“Ipswich have no wish to bring speedway into disrepute, but it has proved to be so frustrating,” added Money.

“I have now been told by the ACU that because Ipswich did not make an appeal to the meeting referee on the night they will not hear our appeal.

“This is after they have sat on the case for six weeks, and with the cut-off date for the Elite League play-offs now upon us leaving Ipswich in a disadvantaged position.

“I telephoned the ACU office virtually every day and have had conversations with their office and also with Terry Russell, the president of the British Speedway Promoters' Association, who is also a promoter of Swindon.

“The ACU acknowledged the receipt of our £1,000 appeal fee after our first appeal to the SCB was turned down.

“And they were told that I would be instructing counsel for the appeal.

“Now we are left with nowhere to go - except go for a judicial review.”

Ipswich are happy that they have gone about things the right way and Ipswich-based rider Shaun Tacey has already confirmed that he had been asked to guest for Swindon on the night - only to be stood down. Tacey's average came within the rules, but Parsons' didn't with Swindon claiming that a delayed issue of amended averages left them no alternative than continue to use their original guest choice.

They obtained telephoned permission from Speedway Control Bureau co-ordinator Graham Reeve and the referee allowed the meeting to go ahead.

“The meeting was shown live on TV and with the fans already in attendance Ipswich were happy for the paying public to be rewarded with a meeting,” said Money. But the referee was informed of their intention to appeal.”

Gary Thompson MBE, general secretary of the ACU, said: “Due to the possibility of continued legal action, we feel it inappropriate to make any comment through the columns of the press at this moment in time.”

Parsons scored seven points and if his points are taken away the meeting would have been drawn. This would now put Ipswich one point behind third-placed Swindon and not four - and with a much better chance of being in a more favourable third rather than fourth position on the play-off cut-off date next Thursday.

Swindon look as though they could win a case that has been protracted beyond belief on a technically. But Ipswich are still determined that they won't.