The struggling city side slumped to the foot of the Elite League standings after being leapfrogged by previous basement boys Belle Vue – the Manchester side seeing off leaders Swindon 47-43.

But Panthers team boss Trevor Swales insists the club have drawn up a strategy to make sure their spell at the bottom is short.

Swales revealed the club could make two signings in the next few days as they begin the job of turning their campaign around, with one new recruit expected to be unveiled inside 24 hours.

Swales said: "Coventry have been bottom in previous years and come through to win the title so it is by no means a complete disaster.

"Of course it is the last place we want to be occupying and it is something we are addressing very urgently, but we should not panic.

"The management have been working tirelessly behind the scenes and we are very close to being able to start the process of righting the things that are wrong.

"It is vital we make the correct changes rather than doing it for the sake of it – and that's something we feel we are doing."

Swales gave no clue to the identity of the potential new arrival but admitted the club considered moving for Daniel Davidsson before he rejoined parent club Poole at the weekend.

Swales denied an approach had been made for 2006 title hero Richard Hall who is now riding well in the Premier League for Scunthorpe.


ELITE LEAGUE

Last night's results: Belle Vue 47, Swindon 43; Coventry 41, Lakeside 49; Eastbourne 41, Poole 48.

PANTHERS' Danish rider Kenneth Bjerre scored 10 points on a guest appearance for Eastbourne as they lost 48-41 at home to Poole last night.

SEE tomorrow's Evening Telegraph as Mark Plummer investigates where it has all gone wrong for Panthers – and how it can be put right.