Monday 18th June 2012, 23:59

Coventry star Scott Nicholls has branded Bees promoter Mick Horton’s decision to axe team manager Colin Pratt a “total disgrace”, but pledged “this doesn’t affect my attitude towards him and the club.”

Nicholls, who hopes to return from a broken collarbone by the end of the month, was announced as one of Team Great Britain’s four starters for Event Two of the FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup at King’s Lynn on July 9.

He will tackle Australia, Germany and the Czech Republic alongside SGP star Chris Harris, Tai Woffinden and Danny King.

But it was Nicholls’ comments over the Bees managerial changes that truly set Twitter on fire on Monday night. He tweeted: “Total disgrace about Colin being fired as team manager!! A man with a wealth of knowledge & who has the respect of his riders! Disappointing.”

Pratt has been involved with the Bees as co-promoter since 1998 and remains at Brandon on the promotional team, with Blayne Scroggins taking over as team manager.

But Nicholls says he won’t let the shock changes affect his performance and attitude at Brandon.

He said: “I’ll do everything I can to support whoever I race for and I respect the fact someone is employing me. I’ll do whatever I can to help my employer.

“As Mick is my employer, I have to respect what he chooses to do and hope it works out. I just don’t agree with what he has done, but he has got his reasons and his views.

“I’ve stated I don’t agree with it. It doesn’t mean I’m going to have the sulks about it and not co-operate with people. We’re all big enough and man enough not to agree with someone, but get on with it.”

He added: “I’m doing the best I can, I’m passionate about Coventry and I want them to have success. All I can say is that I hope the decision he has made works.

“I’m sad to see Colin go, but if he (Horton) makes this decision, everything turns around and we end up getting into the play-offs and winning the league, nobody is going to be complaining.”

Nicholls is targeting a return to fitness for Coventry’s Elite League trip to Peterborough on June 28, but he admits there have been a few complications with his recovery.

He said: “It’s not coming on as well as I would have liked. I have a bit of trouble with the nerves and muscle, which is kind of restricting me a bit.

“I’ve got all my sensations and feeling. It’s almost like whiplash symptoms from neck and into my shoulder. It’s a group of muscles and nerves that are just aggravated, stretched and bruised. That’s kind of holding me up.

“But I’ve been having treatment and I’ve been progressively getting better. I’m still confident and looking at June 28. I was hoping I’d be fit before that and have some practice, but the muscle and nerve damage is a bit worse than I first thought.

“I’ve got a few meetings before that and my plan is to race before this month is out. The World Cup is in July and I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be fit and ready to go for those meetings.”

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