Panthers riding for 'the pride of the club'
PANTHERS team boss Trevor Swales insists his remaining riders cannot lose the faith.
PANTHERS team boss Trevor Swales insists his remaining riders cannot lose the faith.Speaking ahead of the crisis club's return to the track in an Elite League B battle at Belle Vue tonight (7.30pm), Swales admitted it is vital that a defeatist attitude does not descend on his weakened team.
Panthers face the prospect of tackling three away meetings in the space of 10 days (they go to Coventry on TV next Monday and they face Swindon on July 31) without club talisman Hans Andersen who is on strike over unpaid wages and sponsorship money.
Panthers were beaten 52-41 in their last visit to Manchester despite a splendid individual performance from Andersen.
Swales said: "It is going to be a mega-hard meeting without a number one, but we have to believe in ourselves.
"What I need from the riders is their 'A' game to make sure we come out of these three meetings with our heads held high.
"We can't alter what has happened in the background but we must do our bit on the track to make sure the club goes forward because that is of paramount importance.
"I will be reminding the boys of the fact they are riding for the pride of the club."
Panthers will use rider-replacement to cover the absence of Andersen. Number eight Ty Proctor comes in for another appearance at reserve.
Danny King takes over as skipper with Andersen out of action and injury could have spared the city side from a drubbing tonight.
Belle Vue star Jason Crump is sidelined after sustaining a wrist injury when being sent tumbling by Sweden's Peter Ljung in the World Cup Final on Saturday night.
Crump is due to see a specialist today to discover the full extent of his injuries and won't line up at Kirkmanshulme Lane.
The Aces team plans were up in the air at the time of going to press. They are entitled to use a guest to replace Crump but Poole are the only Elite League team not racing tonight and their main men – Bjarne Pedersen and Chris Holder – are both unavailable.
Belle Vue are already without long-term injury victim Lukasz Jankowski.
Panthers: 1 Rider replacement for Hans Andersen, 2 Claus Vissing, 3 Kenneth Bjerre, 4 Henning Bager, 5 Danny King, 6 Morten Risager, 7 Ty Proctor.
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Weather for Peterborough
Thursday 18 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 8 C
Wind Speed: 14 Knots
Wind direction: North west
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 10 C
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