King’s Lynn and Peterborough have announced ‘unique’ changes to their team management plans ahead of tonight’s Premiership fixtures.
Both sides are racing away from home on Monday with the MacInnes Stars in action at Belle Vue (8pm) and the Crendon Panthers at Wolverhampton (7.30pm).
And it has led to former Lynn boss Rob Lyon – now in charge down the A47 at Peterborough – stepping into the breach to take charge of affairs in Manchester.
The Stars are suffering from a rare set of issues with team manager Alex Brady unavailable to make the trip due to personal circumstances, and his fellow co-promoter Dale Allitt absent due to illness.
In addition, club owner Keith Chapman is currently out of the country on a pre-arranged holiday.
It has therefore been agreed that regular Panthers chief Rob Lyon will travel to Belle Vue to take charge of the Stars, whilst Peterborough co-promoter Carl Johnson – who has stood in for Lyon on various occasions in recent years and previously managed the team in his own right – will take the Panthers at Wolverhampton.
It’s likely at this stage that Rob will also stand in with King’s Lynn on Thursday in their home match against Wolverhampton, when Peterborough have no fixture.
A statement from the Stars read: “We appreciate this is an unusual scenario but given the timing of the situation and the need for both clubs to be represented by licenced team managers on Monday, it was felt this was the best solution and also gives some form of continuity for the riders, who all know Rob and Carl well.
“King’s Lynn offer their thanks to Rob for agreeing to step in, in a situation where their regular options were all unavailable, and we will provide further updates when appropriate.”
Lynn are expected to name unchanged one-to-seven in Manchester and the Stars are continuing to assess their options going forward.
Lynn were still due to be without club captain Josh Pickering, but it is hoped that he will be able to resume racing in the very near future.
Brady said: “Josh underwent a week of intensive physio in Poland, and what was actually causing the problem in the end wasn’t a trapped nerve.
“He actually banged two shoulder bones together, so a bruised bone is actually what’s keeping him out now.
“But he’s been undergoing some laser treatment and lots of other stuff as well, so he’s hoping to be back at some point this week.”
