SCOTT Nicholls has left the door ajar for a return to the Ipswich Evening Star Witches.Nicholls, 29, was speaking after last night's Sky Sports Elite League clash between his Coventry side and the Witches was called off at 6.

By Mike Bacon

SCOTT Nicholls has left the door ajar for a return to the Ipswich Evening Star Witches.

Nicholls, 29, was speaking after last night's Sky Sports Elite League clash between his Coventry side and the Witches was called off at 6.40pm, with rain falling steadily.

Nicholls moved to the midlands club for £36,000 in 2005 admit arguments between both sets of promotions about the circumstances involved.

He was stuck in the middle and it did him few favours.

Just six months after Nicholls had held a successful testimonial meeting at Foxhall Stadium as an Ipswich rider, many fans felt they had to take sides over the issue - and his popularity waned in many quarters.

However, that now appears to be on the rise with his efforts as a guest rider for the Suffolk side on a number of occasions having been well received by the Foxhall faithful.

“A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the day I left,” Nicholls said last night. “I am very happy at Coventry and moving to another club is not what I want right now.

“However, things could change and one day in the future, with me still living in Ipswich, a ten-minute drive to home meetings might appeal again.

“I said things in the past which I meant at the time, but no, I won't rule out a return to Ipswich one day.”

One of the reasons things might change for Nicholls - and many top stars in British speedway - is the shortage of riders and a lack of loyalty among a few Grand Prix riders.

It has caused annoyance to British promoters, with some calling for a complete ban on all GP riders, while the more likely scenario appears to be a call for just one rider in the side to have an average of eight points or more, whether they are GP riders or not.

With Nicholls' current Coventry side having three riders who are all likely to finish with eight point-plus averages - Chris Harris and Rory Schlein being the other two - a move might happen for the Ipswich-born star whether he likes it or not.

“I don't think it is fair for teams with more than one eight-point rider to have to lose riders. We have a points limit and clubs should build with that,” Nicholls added.

“Yes, some GP riders have spoilt it for others, getting what we call GP-itis and missing meetings in England. I don't like them doing that. No one has forced them to sign a contract in England and they should honour it.

“The likes of Mark Loram and Rory Schlein, to use examples from Coventry and Ipswich, who both have high averages shouldn't be penalised, which they would be.”

Nicholls, now a father to five-week old Maya, remains Britain's top rider, with team-mate Harris pushing him all the way.

Saturday, June 30, sees the British Grand Prix at Cardiff once again, with Nicholls hoping he can at last break his GP hoodoo. “I say this every year, so I might as well say it again - it would be great to win my first GP at Cardiff.”