Last updated at 19:37, Thursday, 12 July 2012

Axed Gary Irving has blamed his Workington Comets exit on a difference of opinion with owner Keith Denham.

NEW MAN: Ashley Morris

Poor scores were cited by Denham for dumping the reserve, despite Irving averaging 5.64 in the Premier League.

Disappointed Irving has been replaced by 18-year-old National League prospect Ashley Morris, who makes his debut alongside fellow new boy Tero Aarnio at Somerset tonight.

Irving said: “When I spoke with Keith it was obvious we wanted different things.

“At the start of the year I was told to improve my consistency, to stay on the bike and not try too hard for the win.

“I have done that, but Keith obviously has different ideas, and I don’t understand his reasons for dropping me.

“For the past month I have not been happy with the way things have been run, but it is Keith’s team, and this is the way he wants it to be.”

Irving admitted to a couple of bad meetings, but felt it was a lack of track time due to bad weather that had let him down.

He also criticised the Derwent Park track, and added: “It changes every week and that doesn’t suit me. One week it’s slick, the next it’s grippy.”

Irving’s parent club Scunthorpe quickly snapped him up following his release.

He said: “I am delighted to be back at Scunthorpe. I like everybody there, the track is great and the management are good with me.”

Irving’s replacement Morris, who rides with Adam Roynon at Dudley, will perform in front of the home fans tomorrow as Redcar come to town.

And the former guest rider is confident he can handle the step up to the Premier League.

He said: “I can’t wait to get into the Comets race jacket and make my debut.

“I am a lot sharper from the gate and have better equipment than when I was a guest.

“As soon as I get my bikes set up to Derwent Park and get it dialled in I will enjoy my racing.

“The gating and the speed of the racing are the two main differences between the National and Premier League, but I am confident, and need to make the step up.”

Fitting in will be no problem for Morris having trained with Kyle Howarth in Australia.

l Comets will be chasing their first piece of silverware on Sunday when they take part in the Premier League Fours at Peterborough.

The quartet of Kenny Ingalls, Rene Bach, Richard Lawson and Roynon have been placed in a group with Somerset, Leicester and Glasgow.

If they get through, they will meet two of Plymouth, Newcastle, Berwick and Redcar.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk