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SCUNTHORPE are to rejoin the National League this season - thanks to a tie-in with reigning Elite League Champions Poole.The Lincolnshire club become the ninth team in the third tier and will be known as the Stags, having previously operated at that level between 2005 and 2012, the latter five seasons being alongside the club’s Premier League racing.The partnership with Poole is set to give opportunities to youngsters at the Eddie Wright Raceway with the eventual aim of progression to the Elite League with the Pirates.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey explained: “Matt (Ford) put the idea to me with great enthusiasm, spurred on by the new fast-track approach in using British youngsters in the Elite League reserve berths.“His contribution into the project is the reason that the Scunthorpe Stags will come to the tapes in the 2014 National League. Matt is our partner in the project, and it will benefit both Scunthorpe and Poole speedway clubs.“We will have a team largely consisting of riders who are brand new to the National League, chosen by Scunthorpe Stags’ chairman Richard Hollingsworth, who is at the frontline of youth development at Scunthorpe Speedway.“I believe this is a great day for British Speedway and that is entirely possible for us to develop another British World Champion, to follow in the footsteps of Scunthorpe-born Tai Woffinden.”

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WOLVERHAMPTON owner Chris Van Straaten says leaving Adam Skornicki out of the Monmore side for 2014 is his one regret.The long-serving Polish rider has made the move across the West Midlands to join Birmingham, and Van Straaten admitted it was a tough decision.He said: “We all know how popular Adam is with our supporters and he will get a great reception when he comes back with Birmingham I’m sure. It was my main regret when we did the team that there was no place for Adam but I am pleased to see he has been fixed up elsewhere.“He did a great job for us last season. When others were misfiring in the play-offs, ironically against Birmingham, he was still performing to a high standard.”