Express & Star

Furious Tai Woffinden hits out as he’s barred from Wolverhampton Wolves

Tai Woffinden has hit out at speedway rules preventing him from riding to the rescue of injury-ravaged Wolves.

Published

Two-time world champion Woffinden has been prevented from helping his parent club by rules introduced at the start of this season which brought forward the deadline for new signings from the end of August to the end of July.

And that means Woffinden, who is contracted to Wolves, cannot ride. The 27-year-old posted to British Speedway bosses on Twitter: “Wolves now without their top three due to injury, please explain why a contracted rider (me) owned by Wolves can not ride for my club... From what I understand no one liked last year how I came in at the end and we won the league so members of the BSPA had the rule changed.” And he added: “I represent my country in the World Championship yet I cant ride for my club when they need me??? I just don’t get it?

“Top two are laid in hospital so they should be able to replace them – I’m not saying add me as well and drop someone!”

Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Rory Schlein and Kyle Howarth have now joined Freddie Lindgren and Jacob Thorssell on the injury list and will miss both tonight’s Knockout Cup first leg against Belle Vue at Monmore and the return in Manchester 24-hours later.

The duo crashed in the Championship Pairs at Sheffield on Sunday. Schlein has a wrist problem and won’t race again this season and Howarth needs a week off with bad bruising of the lower back. British icon Scott Nicholls is joined by former Wolves favourite Ricky Wells and Nick Morris in the Parrys International Wolves side for the first leg.

Boss Peter Adams said: “We’ve had too good a season just to surrender the cup now despite our injury problems. We know the size of the task but to have four of our top five now missing makes it extremely hard.”