Patchett wants teams to make more decisions for the good of the sport

Swindon Robins co-owner Gary Patchett has said the owners of Elite League clubs need to start trying to restore the credibility of the sport.

Poole and Coventry have both been in dispute with speedway's governing body this season over team building issues.

Patchett told BBC Wiltshire: "Everybody has got to ride not only the letter of the law, but by the spirit of the law.

"We need to do what is morally right, and not do what the rulebook might allow us to do."

The Speedway Control Bureau is currently investigating Poole for alleged average manipulation, a charge they strongly deny.

Coventry have also been in dispute with the British Speedway Promoters Association this season, over an interpretation of the rules allowing teams to change their team during a season.

"We all have the credibility of our sport at stake and it's our responsibility to look after it," added Patchett.

Fixture clashes meant Swindon were without their two top riders, Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar, for their Knockout Cup semi-final defeat to Lakeside.

The Robins could have appealed to change the dates of the meetings to give themselves a better chance of winning, but Patchett said that would have been the wrong decision for the sport.

"We made absolutely no attempt to get the fixture changed because it's Lakeside's right to ride on a Friday night.

"They protected their Friday night race night, and we recognised it was their right. We never questioned it."

Swindon were beaten 95-85 on aggregate by Lakeside, going down 49-41 in their second leg on Friday.

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