Express & Star

Cradley Heathens upset with the league

Cradley Heathens have accused the National League of inconsistency after they were not allowed to run rider replacement for Jack Smith in Saturday’s play-off semi-final second leg.

Published

Rider replacement allows the six other members of the team to cover for one person’s absence by taking over his scheduled rides. And with Smith in action in the Czech Republic on the same night, Cradley agreed with Leicester that this would be the case.

However, the National League sent a ‘strongly-worded email’ denying the Heathens this and they were instead forced to find a new rider on the lowest average at short notice.

The Heathens’ complaint arises from the fact Leicester were allowed to run rider replacement for Luke Riddick, who attended the Torun Grand Prix.

A Cradley statement read: “When enquiring how this could be we were told that Luke had been classed as withholding services under which criteria a facility was available and the suggestion was for the Heathens simply to advise that Jack was refusing to ride in similar circumstances. As a club we had no intention of casting any slurs on Jack’s professional attitude, which has been exemplary.”

The Heathens bring the curtain down on their season with the Golden Hammer at Monmore on October 28.