CO-PROMOTER Steve Mallett has revealed speedway fans have one more chance tonight to convince him to not to pull the plug on Newport Mike Manning Audio Wasps in 2012.
The Wasps host Workington Comets in an eagerly-anticipated British Premier League Knockout Cup semi final at Queensway Meadows Stadium on Saturday night - with Mallett confirming the attendance figure could “make or break” the club.
“My family and I have been here for three seasons now and I have lost count of the amount of times I have gone public in expressing my continued disappointment that attendance figures are simply not high enough,” remarked Mallett.
“We have been advised time and again that speedway fans will only turn up en-mass to follow a winning side.
“So we dug deep into our financial pot and produced one which has won 13 and drawn another in its last 17 league and cup fixtures.
“But crowd sizes remain below what they should be and we really have reached the stage now that it’s make or break for local speedway followers.
“I really am urging fans who occasionally to come to watch to unite in a show of strength for Saturday night and to continue to attend.
"We also hear that there are a lot of people who say they follow our results and claim to be Newport Wasps fans.
"Well now is the time for those people to prove they are and get down here to cheer us on to victory on Saturday night.
“Ask anyone just how exciting our last four or five meetings have been and they will tell you they have been out of the top draw.
“We have top quality riders here who also perform to a high level in the (top flight) Elite League while others are classed as having great potential by many.
“This without doubt is the biggest meeting in our time here and we are so desperate for our team to male it through to the final.
“And wouldn’t it be just great if the place was packed out on Saturday to cheer the side on.
“The second leg takes place at Workington on Sunday, but at this moment in time I am only interested in what happens on Saturday night.
“So get down to the speedway and enjoy what will almost certaintly be a far more exciting hour than watching c-class celebs dancing on telly!”
The Wasps are chasing silverware for the first time since 1999, when they lifted the Premier Trophy with two-legged win over Edinburgh Monarchs.
Part of their team that year was club legend Craig Watson, who will interrupt a 12-month sabbatical from the sport by flying in from his native Australia to watch Saturday’s encounter at QMS.
* Children aged under-15 will be admitted free of charge to the Wasps’ home KO Cup semi final against Workington on Saturday night - tapes up at 7.00pm.
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