PETERBOROUGH has been plunged into total turmoil after Carl Johnson quit as the club’s promoter.
It leaves the Panthers not only rooted to the bottom of the Premiership after only one win all season.
He has become increasingly frustrated over the club’s inability to replace three-times world champion Nicki Pedersen after the Danish superstar crashed out on the second bend at the opening meeting of the season at the East of England Arena and turned his back on the club despite being under a season-long contract.
Pedersen, who had spent most of last season recovering from serious injuries, admitted that his body wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands of racing in the UK as well as Poland and Denmark.
Johnson has been a mainstay of the club since taking over as team manager nine years ago and, in 2019, becoming co-promoter with the late Colin Pratt.
A life-long fan who rode for the club’s junior team in the nineties, issued an emotional statement after making his decision to leave.
He said: “It is with deep regret that I tendered my notice as promoter of Peterborough speedway after the successful Ulrich Ostergaard Farewell meeting on Sunday.
“I feel I cannot continue my role within the club and feel deeply saddened that more hasn’t been done to support our fantastic club.
“We, as fans, deserve more and the lack of enthusiasm shown has taken its toll on myself over the season. I feel the love for the sport I’ve had for over 40 years has been drained from me.
“The love for my club will never change and I wish everyone at the club all the best for the rest of the season.
“I’ve personally thanked the people I need to, that have been by my side and have been there for the club.”
Panthers have been given notice to quit the East of England Showground to make way for a major housing development on the site and expect this will be their final season at what has been their home since 1970.
And Johnson has vowed to do everything he can to try and secure a future for the club elsewhere in the city.
He added: “I will, however, be pushing forward with plans for the future with two potential sites for relocation.”
The news of Johnson’s departure – leaving the Panthers, which is owned by Keith Chapman, without a licensed promoter – came as a bombshell just hours after they went down to their heaviest defeat of a dreadful season in which they have lost 12 of their 13 matches so far, at Leicester on Thursday night.
Having finished at the bottom of the Premiership table last year, the team is heading for back-to-back wooden spoons with 11 matches left.
Early this evening the club issued the following statement: “Peterborough Speedway can confirm Carl Johnson has tendered his resignation as a promoter of the club.
This matter is now subject to acceptance by British Speedway Promoters’ Ltd, and the club will make no further comment on his departure.
Peterborough are now exploring all options for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Next Monday’s (July 10) away match at King’s Lynn has been postponed due to the current issues at the Adrian Flux Arena, and has been re-arranged for Thursday July 27.
The club will provide further updates when available, but it is our intention that next Thursday’s (July 13) home match against Sheffield in the Sports Insure Premiership goes ahead as scheduled.