Monarchs' move for Mitchell Davey hinges on passport

Edinburgh Monarchs speedway bosses today revealed that while former Armadale tail-ender Mitchell Davey remains the preferred candidate to fill the vacant No.7 berth and complete their 2016 squad, the 26-year old Australian might be ruled out unless he obtains a British passport.

Mitchell Davey has previously raced with the Monarchs. Pic: Ron MacNeill

Monarchs team manager Alex Harkess said: “We can’t make any progress until Mitchell gets his passport. He applied for it in early October and until he gets it he is not in contention. He cannot ride without it.”

New restrictions surrounding reserve riders’ in the Premier League this season have stalled Monarchs from confirming their full line-up “The rules for the No.7 rider is that they must also be eligible to ride in the National League,” said Harkess. “They must have a three-point average and a British passport. And we don’t think there is any chance of Mitchell being issued with one until mid-February so we are not even talking to him at the moment.”

Davey last raced for Monarchs in 2013 but a broken leg sustained in a horror crash at Sheffield Tigers has kept him on the sidelines for two-and-a-half years following complications in the healing process. However, he did make his long-awaited return from injury at Redcar Bears Silver Helmet meeting on Teeside in September.

Davey said: “I really did not know what to expect from myself in what was a highly competitive field. Unfortunately I finished in 12th place overall and didn’t score a point.

“But it was beneficial for me to see where I was in my comeback and also to see what pace I was on. It is going to take me longer to be where I want to be.”

Asked if the Queenslander is Monarchs’ outright choice, Harkess replied: “We have one or two. But no other club in the Premier League is looking for a No.7 except us, so there is no real urgency. Obviously if there is a delay in Mitchell obtaining a passport then he would not be in our team for the start of the season.”

However, Harkess added that Davey, who is an experienced performer, could be a useful asset at reserve. “He has been around most of the tracks and is a little bit above the rest, but no one is expecting these three point riders to be match winners,” he said.