NEWPORT Speedway boss Tim Stone is unconcerned at a report that has winged its way to the British Speedway Promotors Association over poaching allegations about the Conference League.

A war of words has erupted after Stone voiced his disapproval about some clubs not adhering to a 'gentlemen's agreement' to use the Conference, in which Newport Mavericks ride, as a development league to help youngsters into the sport.

Mildenhall team manager Graham Drury has hit back at allegations that his outfit were a Premier League side disguised as a Conference team, fielding sides that are older professionals against up-and-coming youngsters, and that they 'paid stupid money to poach riders from other clubs'.

Drury reckoned Stone made the poaching allegations prior to the Mavericks match with Mildenhall a fortnight ago and, subsequently, sent off a report to the BSPA.

Drury added: "Tim Stone was completely out of line. His inaccurate comments about our payments could have caused huge disruption in our club and, in 20 years in speedway promotion, I have never been involved in poaching riders."

Your South Wales Argus is the only newspaper to fully cover both Newport Wasps and the Mavericks and, although we wrote a report at Stone's disapproval of the way the Conference is run at the moment, we did not say anything about Mildenhall or anyone else poaching riders.

And neither did the only national speedway magazine which covers the sport throughout Britain. Stone has dismissed Drury's rant, and said: "It doesn't bother me at all.

"The support we are getting from other clubs and even teams like Swindon (who rode against the Wasps on Sunday at Hayley Stadium), their fans have said that they are fully supportive of grassroots speedway that we have in the Conference.

"Apart from Mildenhall, I've had no problems at all with any other teams who have all supported the way the Conference is run by sides like us and the others."

Stone said he had not heard anything back from the report submitted by Drury to the BSPA.

PICTURED: Newport Wasps owner Tim Stone (left) seen here having a heart-to-heart with Workington counterpart Ian Thomas over an unrelated matter.