Monarchs chairman Alex Harkess denied rumours that Edinburgh were planning team changes prior to the September 1st deadline.

The suggestion was that André Compton was replacing Kevin Little and that to keep within the 45-point limit that Derek Sneddon would come in for Will Beveridge. The rumour had Little and Beveridge on their way to Newcastle.

Harkess commented in the Edinburgh Evening News:

"I've heard the rumours, but there's no truth in them. The Monarchs' line-up will not change unless someone goes down with a serious illness."

Harkess did admit that Compton had expressed a desire to ride for Monarchs:

"Certainly André would like to ride for us, as do a few others, who express interest at this time of the year. However it is unsettling when rumours circulate because the first people they get back to are the riders concerned. Ad if there is no truth in them it's very unsettling."

"Kevin has been unhappy because he isn't going well. But Will has been getting better and is happy at Edinburgh and wouldn't want to leave the club at this time of the year. Even if he's offered the chance to return to Newcastle next year, I don't think he would accept. He was mucked about by them and wasn't very happy there.

There is little doubt that Compton would be a very popular signing. Not only is he a good rider on most tracks but he is very fast around Armadale and arguably the most exciting rider in the Premier League. He has been involved in a number of memorable heats at Armadale over the past couple of years. There is sure to be a lot of competition for his signature for next year especially as he is likely to come in on an average of less than eight points.