Harkess expects Ryan return

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 10:14

EDINBURGH Monarchs expect to receive confirmation this weekend that Ryan Fisher will be back at Armadale next season.

It has emerged that Fisher's parent club Coventry Bees are unlikely to use the Californian in the Elite League in 2010 and will give the green light for Fisher to rejoin the Capital speedway side in a loan deal.

Monarchs boss Alex Harkess today revealed: "I have spoken to Coventry promoter Colin Pratt and, while he said they will have to shed two of their existing team for next season, he also commented that Ryan's average is too high for consideration.

"There was no hint that Coventry intend to use Ryan. Colin has to talk things over with his club owner first but I fully expect to hear from him over the weekend."

While it was suggested that Monarchs were considering buying Fisher's contract from the Bees, Harkess added: "We have got too many financial commitments over the next year to think about buying riders like Ryan.

"We have got enough assets of our own without adding to them."

Fisher cannot double-up in the Elite League next season because of his high average but Harkess said: "Ryan phoned me this week to ask if the rules had changed to allow him to double-up again and I said they had not and nor will they.

"Ryan doesn't lack ambition but ambition in his case needs to be tempered by the financial capabilities of earning.

"He has been in the Elite League before and scored just a few points and, while the points money is higher in the top league, if you don't score then it's no good."

Harkess went on: "Once we know Ryan is coming back we can move on with the rest of our team-building plans.

"If he wasn't to return this would affect the bottom end of our side, so the sooner Coventry get back to us the better."