REPREIVE FOR MONARCHS

STATEMENT issued by Edinburgh Speedway on Thursday October 27:

Monarchs have reached an agreement in principle for the reprieve of speedway at Armadale Stadium for the 2023 season.

The dramatic development comes after the recent Farewell to Armadale event rounded-off the time of the Monarchs at the stadium in the past fortnight. There always remained the hope that if the stadium owners could not complete the sale of the stadium at the present time, that speedway might make a temporary return.

Monarchs Co-Promoter John Campbell explained, “We have been in contact with the stadium owners throughout the past two months as they worked to clarify their current position in the sale of the stadium. Word reached us on Tuesday that they are now in a position to make the stadium available for speedway in 2023.

“Informal discussions have continued since then and have reached an agreement in principle for the Monarchs to remain at Armadale Stadium for 2023.

“This is still subject to the formalisation of this agreement and confirmation of final details which we will continue to work on in the days ahead. However, we have an excellent relationship with the Cochrane Family and believe that this will conclude positively.”

The speedway world moves quickly each winter which has brought forward this announcement as soon as possible, Campbell said, “Our supporters are the best around and we wished to alleviate their worries as soon as possible. Our riders are also eager to get fixed up for 2023 so we are pleased to now be in a position to make plans for next season.

“Everyone at the Club is thrilled that we will continue in 2023 and long live the Monarchs far into the future beyond.”

The other fantastic development will be the continuation of the Monarchs Speedway Academy which has been such a success over the past two seasons. The young riders staged their first official Academy Championship at what was to be the final meeting last Friday.

The recent Farewell to Armadale event provided a fitting send-off to what has been a glorious home of the Club ahead of the impending closure of the stadium, however the change in circumstances brings much relief that the Monarchs will continue into next season at Armadale.

This wonderful news should lift the gloom Monarchs’ supporters have been feeling for some time and they can look forward to returning to Armadale Stadium once more next spring.