Speedway: Glasgow Tigers star backs move to bring Friday night racing to Ashfield

Oct 17 2012 By Fraser Wilson

GLASGOW TIGERS legend James Grieves has thrown his support behind Alun Biggart's ambitious plans to rejuvenate the cash-strapped club.

Grieves, Glasgow's second highest points scorer of all time, insists the Denmark-based businessman is the ideal man to move the club forward.

And he reckons the new supremo's proposals to move race night from Sundays to Fridays is a sure-fire winner.

Biggart completed his take-over of the club from Stewart Dickson and Alan Dick last week and immediately vowed to breath new life into the Tigers.

And Grieves hinted he would be delighted to don the stripes again next season under the new-owner, pictured right with Alan Dick.

He said: "Alun is the right guy to take this club forward - there's no doubt about that.

"Everything about him is positive and he has a good team around about him to make sure things get done.

"It's all about getting supporters through the door and selling the product and I'm sure these guys will do that properly.

"Friday night racing would be ideal for Glasgow speedway. I'm sure it would bring in bigger crowds as on a Sunday afternoon you are competing against football on the TV and other things families like to do.

"To put up floodlights at Ashfield and race on Friday nights would be a winner in my eyes."

Grieves was the only Glasgow rider in action at the weekend as he travelled to Sheffield to compete in the Premier League Riders' Championship on Sunday.

But he endured a tough afternoon and was dumped out in the first round, scoring just a single point, as Edinburgh's Craig Cook raced to the title.

The 38-year-old brushed off his under-par performance saying he was just glad to emerge from the race unscathed.

The event was marred by three horrible injuries to Josh Auty, Rene Bach and Jason Doyle - the latter of whom is in hospital with a broken bone in his neck.

All three took heavy tumbles at the exact same spot on the first bend. And Grieves said: "The track was horrendous and I was just happy to get away without any injuries.

"These boys are young and going hell-for-leather to win but I know my limits and at my age I can't afford to pick up serious injuries."

Glasgow welcome Berwick Bandits to Ashfield this Sunday hoping to keep their slim hopes of qualification in the Challenge Trophy alive.

But they will be without injured trio Joe Screen, Henning Bager and Josh Grajczonek for the meeting which gets underway at 4pm.