Tigers new management team have announced former fans favourite Sean Courtney as the club’s new team manager for 2013.
Borders based Courtney, who completed 8 seasons with Glasgow before retiring from racing in 2000, won his place in the club’s folklore as one of the ‘magnificent 7’ who helped the Tigers to a famous league and cup double in 1994 – emulating the same trophy haul 12 months before.
Sean was in attendance at the recent STARs event, and used that visit to experience at first hand the sense of anticipation and mounting excitement amongst Tigers fans, an experience which helped him decide to accept the club’s offer to manage the new look side in 2013.
Clearly delighted to re-join the club he enjoyed much success with in his racing days, Courtney enthused:
“I am really delighted to link up with Glasgow again after the best part of 12 years. I’ve always had a strong connection to the Tigers having ridden so many seasons for them, and having formed a terrific rapport with the fans up there.
I had first been approached by Alun Biggart a couple of months ago, and we’ve been discussing things ever since. I’ve always been keen to get involved, and now that my son Joe is a good bit older and himself keen on speedway, it just feels right more so than had I been approached in the past.
My family and I travelled up to Glasgow a couple of weekends ago to a supporters event. It was just after we had learned that the club had been denied use of Friday night’s next season, and I have to say that did cause me to think a bit longer before making my mind up. I wanted to double check my own commitments to travel to Glasgow each Sunday, and I also wanted to see how the club – management and supporters – reacted to the disappointing news.
Thinking ahead to the future, and what he feels he can bring to the Tigers, Courtney added:
“I think, with my experience, I should be able to help riders when they need help. We now have Harley Horwood making his British debut in 2013, and I’m sure I can help work with him to, as close as possible, achieve his starting average.
We all want Glasgow to be a good place to be, to be welcoming to all and to offer all supporters excellent value for money as well as first class entertainment. We want to have a team who will entertain and who will win all our home meetings, with a top six finish definitely the pre-season target.
I’d like to help the club to a more secure future, to help it to strengthen its asset base and perhaps to be able to help invest in some young British riders if we can, which in many respects makes perfect business sense.
I also want to highlight that we should only track riders who actually want to be at, and race for Glasgow. As a club we need to look after and encourage our riders, but conversely our riders need to want to give of their best for our fans and the club – that is win, win.
My main interest is Glasgow Speedway, and its best interests, it is brilliant and exciting to be back involved and I look forward to meeting up with everyone in the new year.”
It is great to have you back on our side of the pits Sean!