Bjerre could be just the tonic for Swindon Robins (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Bjerre could be just the tonic for Swindon Robins
6:00am Monday 7th January 2013 in Sport By Andy Warren
Bjerre could be just the tonic for Swindon Robins
SWINDON Robins have asked for permission to speak to Dane Kenneth Bjerre as they look to secure a number one for their Elite League title defence.
The club’s first choice to lead the side remains last season’s skipper Hans Andersen, but the Blunsdon side saw a bid to sign the former Grand Prix rider rejected by parent club Peterborough over the weekend, with co-owner Julie Mahoney saying the offer needed to be significantly increaded.
A second bid has since been lodged for Andersen, who was also offered terms by the Panthers earlier in the winter, which he rejected, and turned down the chance to talk to Coventry regarding a full transfer.
Both Andersen and Bjerre have identical 8.18 averages, but with Bjerre returning from a broken leg which ended his season in August, the Panthers have always insisted they had not ruled out using Andersen themselves and have kept their options open.
With the start of the new season now only three months away, both Robins co-owner Gary Patchett and the riders themselves are keen to get their futures sorted as soon as possible.
“Our first offer for Hans was rejected, and I have since re-bid for him,” Patchett said.
“We have now also asked Peterborough if we can speak to Kenneth Bjerre as well as Hans, and they can only use one of the two.
“Kenneth is a very good rider, and we have asked permission to speak to him.”
As well as telling the Robins to up their bid for Andersen, the Panthers management have also insisted they would not loan Troy Batchelor back to Blunsdon for a second season, and are now only seeking a full transfer.
The 25-year-old put his transfer troubles behind him on Saturday morning as he stormed to success in the opening round of the Australian Championship, beating his former Swindon teammate Jason Doyle into second place.
Doyle came out on top at the end of the 20 qualifying heats at Gillman, but after both riders made it into the final it was Batchelor who stormed to victory with Rohan Tungate finishing behind the pair for third.
Batchelor leads the championship on 20 points with Doyle on 18, making them the men to beat going into the final two rounds at Undera on Wednesday and Kurri Kurri on Saturday.
Comments(14)
GalaxyMan
says...
7:36am Mon 7 Jan 13
Come on Panthers, stop playing silly buggers.
swindonspur
says...
8:01am Mon 7 Jan 13
GalaxyMan wrote:Galaxy you are spot on I reckon. Peterborough are going to have admit Bjerre is their number 1 now meaning Batch will be available for loan. Great move by Patch and Rosco.
Sounds like an attempt to force Peterboroughs hand to me. And a good one too. Time for them to make their minds up. Hans doesn't want to ride there anyway so lets just get the job done.
Come on Panthers, stop playing silly buggers.
52Chalkie
says...
8:28am Mon 7 Jan 13
swindonspur wrote:All very well except that the BSPA have said that Batchelor will have to be signed on a full transfer! I agree that the request to talk to Bjerre is just a tactic but will we be able to afford both Hans and Troy-Rick Frost is shedding his assets, as he has the biggest book of assets in the Elite League, so he holds the whip hand in negotiations unless we can get an arbitration deal going.
GalaxyMan wrote:Galaxy you are spot on I reckon. Peterborough are going to have admit Bjerre is their number 1 now meaning Batch will be available for loan. Great move by Patch and Rosco.
Sounds like an attempt to force Peterboroughs hand to me. And a good one too. Time for them to make their minds up. Hans doesn't want to ride there anyway so lets just get the job done.
Come on Panthers, stop playing silly buggers.
oldlegtrailer
says...
8:39am Mon 7 Jan 13
swindonspur
says...
8:58am Mon 7 Jan 13
52Chalkie wrote:Bjerre and Sundstrom at Pboro means Batch is out of their plans. How can the BSPA force us to sign him on a full transfer? I know that is their ruling but if hes not part of his parent clubs plans and this ruling stops him getting a team place then surely they are stopping a rider earning a living meaning they are open to some sort of legal action.
swindonspur wrote:All very well except that the BSPA have said that Batchelor will have to be signed on a full transfer! I agree that the request to talk to Bjerre is just a tactic but will we be able to afford both Hans and Troy-Rick Frost is shedding his assets, as he has the biggest book of assets in the Elite League, so he holds the whip hand in negotiations unless we can get an arbitration deal going.
GalaxyMan wrote:Galaxy you are spot on I reckon. Peterborough are going to have admit Bjerre is their number 1 now meaning Batch will be available for loan. Great move by Patch and Rosco.
Sounds like an attempt to force Peterboroughs hand to me. And a good one too. Time for them to make their minds up. Hans doesn't want to ride there anyway so lets just get the job done.
Come on Panthers, stop playing silly buggers.
StillPav
says...
9:38am Mon 7 Jan 13
Personally I think this is both clubs playing silly buggers. Swindon don't want Bjerre and I don't think Peterborough are really that interested in Andersen.
I have no doubt this will all be resolved before the season starts.
swindonspur
says...
11:11am Mon 7 Jan 13
StillPav wrote:NKI said he had no interest in riding for Pboro yet the BSPA have said he is allowed to go on loan. What is the difference?!! The rules are a joke.
Batchelor publicly stated he doesn't want to ride for Peterborough, which was the justification for Swindon having to sign him on a full transfer.
Personally I think this is both clubs playing silly buggers. Swindon don't want Bjerre and I don't think Peterborough are really that interested in Andersen.
I have no doubt this will all be resolved before the season starts.
StillPav
says...
11:31am Mon 7 Jan 13
Rovin Robin
says...
1:14pm Mon 7 Jan 13
oldlegtrailer
says...
3:05pm Mon 7 Jan 13
whole Administrative side of speedway could not organise a booze up in Arkells Cellar. Exactly right above they make up the rules as they see fit and at times must contravene European Law not that I care a flip about that!
bobxski
says...
8:24pm Mon 7 Jan 13
mikek
says...
9:35pm Mon 7 Jan 13
bobxski wrote:Terrible signing to make lets hope it is just mind games by Roscoe as Bjerre has never ridden Blunsdon at all well and would be a massive backward step I reckon Doyle would outscore him down here.
Seriously Kenneth Bjerre!! Usually very poor around Swindon!
mikek
says...
10:04pm Mon 7 Jan 13
gambon says...
7:17am Mon 7 Jan 13