IPSWICH'S budding world champion Scott Nicholls today launched a stinging attack on the speedway authorities.Taking a break from practice for tonight's Czech Republic Grand Prix in Prague, the 25-year-old Ipswich Evening Star Witches skipper blasted those responsible for a big loss of earnings.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH'S budding world champion Scott Nicholls today launched a stinging attack on the speedway authorities.

Taking a break from practice for tonight's Czech Republic Grand Prix in Prague, the 25-year-old Ipswich Evening Star Witches skipper blasted those responsible for a big loss of earnings.

A disastrous campaign, which saw the Witches finish bottom of the Sky Sports Elite League, has led to a premature end to the season at Foxhall Stadium.

"My closed season – my non-earning period – has been stretched to almost seven months," roared Ipswich-born Nicholls.

"It will be the middle of next March before I start drawing regular income from speedway again, a

situation that makes me livid.

"It is a farce and the authorities must not make the same mistakes again. I am pleading with them to get it right in 2004."

The British season does not end until October 30 and clubs like Coventry still have a possible 14 matches to ride. But Nicholls is left with just one booking – the 16-Lap Classic scheduled for Foxhall on September 25.

Overseas bookings will see Nichols in action in three matches for his club sides in both Sweden and Poland. And there are two more GP events after tonight's live televised meeting from Prague.

Nicholls, who is seventh in the Grand Prix standings, current British champion and skipper of Team Great Britain in this year's world cup in Denmark, took a swipe at the Ipswich management.

He added: "The assembly of the 2003 Witches team went completely wrong, although I do not accuse anyone of lack of effort both on or off the track for that."

And he believes that Britain's governing body also needs to get their house in order.

"The decision by British authorities to bring in a British League Cup competition also misfired," added Nicholls.

"It was done to give clubs a chance to stage meetings on Grand Prix weeks, while the top riders could get on and prepare for their tilt at the world individual title.

"But I have ridden at Foxhall Stadium two days before three GP's this season – and lost out on ten pay days after being excluded from the Witches League Cup squad.

"This does not make sense to me. Last year Ipswich rode up to the end of October and I had to miss out on a Knock-Out Cup final meeting because I had to ship out to Sydney, Australia for a GP.

"There is no need to get out the violin and I am not pleading poverty. But I think I have a case."