Kyle Bickley’s switch of Championship clubs has proved in vain after Newcastle Diamonds announced they were pulling out.
The Workington-based rider was relieved to get fixed-up quickly after losing his team place at Berwick Bandits.
But the news is a devastating blow, not just for Bickley, the other riders and Newcastle fans, but also to the sport in general.
There have been concerns for a little while now about several clubs having the wherewithal to continue. Indeed Workington Comets, who plan to join the National Development League next season had been tipped off they might be asked to come back at a level higher – the Championship.
Bickley, 20, is not the only rider with Workington connections, although he hadn’t actually made his debut for the Diamonds. James Wright, a former Comets favourite was an established member of the team after a few years out of the sport.
Diamonds’ owner Rob Grant took the decision on Monday night with his team having been due to travel to Plymouth today, Tuesday, and has subsequently announced he has closed the club.
BSP Ltd Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “It’s obviously a matter of serious regret to be losing a club, and it did come as a shock to us last night.
“We had been working with the Newcastle promotion in an attempt to get them to the end of the season, and every opportunity and help was given to them.
“Discussions had been ongoing for several weeks, but they have suffered a number of unfortunate problems this year.
“We did feel they would be able to see things through, but sadly that’s proved not to be the case.
“Our thoughts are with the riders, supporters and club officials affected by this news, and we sincerely hope the sport is able to resume at Brough Park in the future.”
Grant said: “The situation has taken a massive toll on the finances of the club, a massive hit on my own mental health and also a substantial toll on my other businesses and I cannot allow this to taske me down.
“Crowds have dwindled to an unworkable level and trying to encourage folk back into the stadium was never going to work.
“The situation was critical and it had to be shut down now before it became too late for prospective new people to look at taking the club into 2023.”
