MONARCHS TO CONTINUE IN 2011

NEWS Friday 22nd October 2010, 3:42pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will confirm during the Knockout Cup Final at Armadale tonight that they are to continue racing at the same venue in 2011.

The club recently made public the fact that they have had a bad year financially in 2010 in spite of winning the league and reaching the Cup Final. It has indeed been a close-run decision to continue, as the club also face a 25% rent increase for the stadium next season ? an increase that the club realise has in turn been forced on landlord Kenny Waugh due to his own increased costs.

Club Chairman Alex Harkess said ?It would have been a terrible blow to lose our weekly Speedway, especially as we are the current league champions. We simply could not bring ourselves to do that, and to disappoint so many people.

?However people must realise that we must work harder than ever to close the gap between income and outgo. We already do better than most clubs with fundraising.?

Season ticket holders will receive renewal forms tonight. There will be a public meeting next Friday at the Almondvale Suite of Livingston FC to allow supporters a chance to have their say or make suggestions, and to hear what the promotion have to say.

The promotion have received some offers of financial assistance since their initial announcement of losses and gratefully thank those who have pledged money. In the longer term, especially with a move to a new venue in mind, the sport has to pay its way.