Cellar dwelling Wolves building up

Wednesday 13th August 2008, 5:17AM BST.

wolverhamptonwolves.JPGCellar dwellers Wolves will try to build for the future rather than implement a quick fix for the current speedway season.

Monday’s home defeat by Lakeside left the club cemented in the Elite League’s bottom spot and prompted team manager Peter Adams to admit
publicly that the relegation play-offs are looming.

Club owner Chris Van Straaten, having drafted in Jesper B Monberg for the injured Christian Hefenbrock, is ruling out further changes – for now.

He said: “Our hands are really tied. There are a number of riders now hawking themselves around who don’t see any long-term future in Britain.

“They want to come and do a few matches in Britain now because it suits their diary. But they won’t be available next year.

“If we were chasing the top four it’s probably something that, with a degree of cynicism, you would look at – because other clubs would.

“I don’t think that’s the route we should go down. But my position might change in a couple of weeks.”

At the other end of the scale, Van Straaten is reluctant to blood young, developing riders who might be out of their depth.

He said: “I’ve got one or two four-point riders in the pipeline who aren’t ready for Elite League right now.

“I don’t know whether it’s right to throw them into a losing team. You need to put that kind of rider into a team that’s winning, where everybody is rushing around helping each other.”

Van Straaten, with 20 years plus at the promotional helm at Wolves, is nonplussed by the team’s inconsistent form.

He said: “We rode the week before and it was one of the best speedway meetings I’d ever seen. We beat Swindon and they went to Lakeside and won. Then we lost to Lakeside.”


  1. 1
    Bilbrook Wolf

    Well lets hope they bring in Tai next year. There are certain riders that have given up weeks ago and not giving 100%. We need a clear out next year.

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  2. 2
    Jane

    I have to say Chris Van Straaten that waiting another few weeks when you could possibly decide to change things around will be too damn late!
    Bottom place is as good as ours and nothing will change that unless you (CVS) change your opinions regarding employing short-term contract riders.
    We all know that every season the rules are changed meaning that virtually every team has to restructure for the following season so why try to build for next season now, it makes no sense! It would of course if we were mid-table with nothing to win or to lose but we are bottom so it is not the time to sit back and do nothing!
    CVS, get in whoever you can so Wolves can move out of the basement position and save everyone the embarrassment of having to see our team involved in a relegation play-off.
    To do nothing is both frustrating and annoying and support has dwindled enough so far this season, so carry on like this and no-one will be at Monmore Green in the coming weeks!

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  3. 3
    Disillusioned wolf

    We have some very good young riders who need support. Come on CVS be positive and get them help, we all know the weak links. The play offs concern me unless we strengthen. Does anyone else wonder if Tai will ever ride for us??????

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