Last updated 21:27, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

WORKINGTON Comets owner Keith Denham has admitted being dejected and distraught over the events of last weekend.

Daniel Nermark’s decision to ride in Poland after sitting-out Workington’s match with Reading on Saturday had clearly angered the speedway boss.

But the dejection of being snubbed by the team number one was replaced by feelings of despair after new signing Barry Burchatt was critically injured in a grass-track smash.

Denham is insisting on a face-to-face meeting with Nermark before he rides for Workington again.

“I felt totally dejected, stabbed in the back. He was the rider I set my stall out for and told Ian (Thomas) to sign for the Comets.

“I am assured he has done nothing like this before and I’m so disappointed in him. He hasn’t just let the management and his team down he has let

down the fans and I am going to insist he apologises publicly to the supporters before he rides again.

“Daniel assured us that he wouldn’t be going to Poland on Sunday after pulling out of our two meetings. He has clearly succumbed to the wishes of his Polish club and not the Comets,” said Denham.

Nermark crashed at Rye House on Bank Holiday Monday and was at first thought to have suffered a broken scaphoid but the damage was later confirmed as being confined to ligaments in the wrist area.

He rode in Sweden on Tuesday and Thursday – missed Workington’s two matches on Friday and Saturday – before re-appearing again in a Polish League match.

Nermark has commitments in Sweden this week and Workington’s management team will be watching his movements with interest. The Comets don’t resume until Saturday when they host Scunthorpe.

On a brighter note, Comets’ talented 16-year-old reserve Joe Haines scored nine points and a bonus from four rides guesting for Reading Racers as they beat Sheffield Tigers 60-33 at Smallmead. Ex-Comet Ulrich Ostergaard scored a 15-point five-ride maximum.