McGowan was a free agent after being dropped by Swindon

Mildenhall Fen Tigers' move to sign Travis McGowan for their last home meeting of the season against Stoke has been blocked by the sport's regulator.

The British Speedway Promoters' Association say the request came after their 31 August deadline.

Fen Tigers promoter Keith Chapman has claimed the BSPA have allowed late moves before and he was merely trying to field a competitive team.

Mildenhall will replace McGowan with a guest rider at West Row on Sunday.

Chapman criticised the BSPA management committee for ruling the signing as inadmissible.

He said: "We haven't won a league match all season and not in a million years did I dream there would be a problem.

"The reason why they have blocked the move has therefore puzzled me because firstly the move was not pre-empted by us or Travis as he was sacked by Swindon."

Chapman claims a precedent was set in September 2007 when the BSPA gave Birmingham permission for Phil Morris to join their team because of injury problems despite leaving Newport just a week earlier.