4:14pm Monday 23rd June 2008
By Anthony Marshall
ROBINS have been allowed to keep the three points they gained from an away win at Ipswich back in April, following an arbitration hearing today.
On Monday, April 14, Swindon beat the Ipswich Witches 50-43 on their own patch in the Sky Sports Elite League.
The Witches had been unhappy with Swindon's use of guest rider Joel Parsons, but this afternoon's decision confirmed the Robins acted legally throughout.
Robins co-owner Terry Russell explained the sequence of events leading up to Ipswich's protest over Swindon's use of Parsons, who scored seven points in the meeting.
He said: "Throughout this whole process Swindon Speedway has deliberately kept a low profile.
"Ipswich have done all the talking and some of the comments they have released are factually incorrect.
As far as Swindon Speedway is concerned we've done nothing wrong and have acted fairly throughout this procedure.
"It's important to point out that we initially booked Joel Parsons as a guest, not because he was a track specialist but because his average fitted the jigsaw.
"On Monday April 14, whilst on the way to Suffolk for the meeting against Ipswich, we received a phone call from the meeting referee, Chris Gay, informing us that a new set of averages had been released via e-mail at 2.30pm that afternoon.
"These new figures showed Joel Parsons' average raising and he therefore no longer fitted into our proposed line up.
"We contacted Graham Reeve, the SCB consultant administrator, who agreed to look into the situation and call us back.
"Planning for the worst, we made contact with Premier League rider Shaun Tacey to ascertain his availability if the inclusion of Joel Parsons was deemed illegal by the BSPA.
"Shaun was reluctant to ride because he'd spent the weekend riding up north with King's Lynn.
"Shortly after speaking to Shaun we received a call from Graham Reeve informing us that it would be fine to use Joel Parsons as the averages that were issued at 2.30pm that afternoon wouldn't apply.
"At no point during, before or immediately after the meeting did the Ipswich promotion express their concern about the situation.
"They didn't lodge an appeal before the meeting and only began to get vocal when they had been defeated.
"The new averages were released at 2.30pm, five hours before we were due to ride. As the management and riders were travelling to the circuit none of us had internet access and therefore tracking a replacement at that late stage would be virtually impossible.
"We are satisfied by today's decision and can now put this matter to bed."
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