Monarchs delay decision on Premier League participation

But he said the Capital club will need to declare their intention within the next three weeks ahead of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association annual AGM.

Monarchs are battling to  survive after plunging into the red again at Armadale this season, and Harkess said:  “We are going to look at all the options to see what we can do and where we are going.

“We were never going to be in a position at this stage to say ‘yes, we are running’, or ‘no, we are not’. We also had to find out what was in John (Campbell’s) mind after he resigned as  co-promoter last Friday.”

Harkess continued: “There are difficult times ahead and we must look at things that need to happen for the club to continue. We don’t want to be starting a new season in March and discover we can’t survive. We can’t do that any longer, so we need to ensure that certain things are in place, or are going to be in place, before we make our final decision.”

Harkess did reveal that  Scotwaste, the team sponsors, are almost certain to continue their backing if they run in 2013.

“I spoke to Scotwaste boss Stewart Melrose yesterday and he is very happy and positive and I don’t think anything will change and I have no reason to be negative about their long  association with the team.”

Campbell quit after 29 years at the helm, feeling there is no future for Monarchs at Armadale, but he has not resigned as a director.  Asked if he felt Campbell was considering a change of heart, Harkess replied: “John is not saying very much about it, but is concerned about the financial side of things.”