Monarchs are deadlocked in talks with Berwick over the transfer of Kevin Little. Monarchs have warned that unless Berwick agree to lower their asking price, Kevin risks being frozen out of speedway for this year. Monarch’s promoter, John Campbell, said that he was not prepared to pay ‘ridiculous money’ for Little.

Campbell added:

"I think people believe that Edinburgh have money falling out of their pockets. We don’t. And even if we did, we wouldn’t pay the inflated price Berwick are asking ".

Kevin Little is due to fly out the United States for an engagement in two weeks and Monarchs want the issue resolved before he departs.

"If we haven’t reached agreement by then we will have to look at other avenues. Currently we are far apart and Berwick refuse to budge an inch. I cannot believe we won’t be able to reach a lower figure. However if Berwick refuse to move off their figure, no deal will be done."

"If that happens, Kevin will be out of a job. I don’t think that he can fit into Berwick’s own side because of his eight point average and there is nowhere he can go apart from Edinburgh".

Campbell declined to reveal the exact sum that Berwick are looking for but said:

"In this day and age of no money in Speedway, it is way over the top. It is not the sort of figure I would pay for any rider. I think that our offer is a fair one. Berwick Bandits have justified their asking price but their views don’t coincide with ours".

Monarchs have a Danish rider lined up to fill the vacant third heat leader slot and reckons that it will not have any adverse effect on Monarchs prospects.

"Under the revised rules any foreigner joining a British club this term comes in on an eight-point average. This is lower than Kevin’s so we wouldn’t have any problems slotting him in. I can’t reveal his identity except to say that he is not one of our own assets but if we do sign him he could turn out to be another Nicki Pedersen. Nobody believed Newcastle’s own Dane would turn out to be a ten-point rider last season. We could strike lucky".

"However, Kevin is the man we really want and he has no desire to return to Berwick. Hopefully things will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction".

If Kevin does sign, Monarchs are set to name an all-British side. Indeed if David McAllan, Paul Taylor or Stevie McAllister fills the final reserve spot, six of the team will be Scots.

[This news item was added on January 30th 1999]