Glasgow have made a “statement of intent” over their hopes for silverware this season – by signing Finnish international Kauko Nieminen.
The 35-year-old, who rode for the Tigers in 2006, joined today on a 7.25 average in place of the injured David Howe.
‘Nemo’ was a hugely popular member of Glasgow’s team that made the Premier League play-offs nearly a decade ago, when he formed a potent top three with Shane Parker and Danny Bird.
Now, team manager Stewart Dickson hopes he can become part of a power-packed top four as the Tigers compete on three different fronts towards the season’s climax.
Dickson said: “We’re delighted to bring him to the club.
“At this stage of the season, I didn’t want to take a chance with an untried foreigner. This is not the year to do that.
“Kauko comes in on a 7.25 and I think we all know he’ll be capable of getting that or being very close to that.
“It’s important we got somebody who knows the track and knows the script here. It’s not new to him, so he’s not learning. He’s what I would call ready-made and it gives us a very strong top four.
“He’s coming in as a second string – we just need to get James Sarjeant back to the kind of form he was on at the start of the season and we’ll have two really good second strings.
“I think it’ll give the riders a boost as well – when they see Kauko walk through the pits, it’ll give them a lift and hopefully give the fans a lift as well.”
Dickson believes the signing of Nieminen sends a message out to the Tigers’ title rivals.
He said: “It’s getting near the business end of the season and we’re in the League Cup final.
“It’s a statement of intent. We want to be challenging for trophies. We’ve put ourself in a position to challenge for them and as I promised a couple of weeks ago, it isn’t just going to peter out. We’re going for it and this proves our intentions that we’ll bring the best to Glasgow if we can.
“He will make his debut on Monday night for us against Plymouth, along with Hynek Stichauer. I think it’ll make Monday night even more exciting because they’ve strengthened up with James Wright coming in – and with Sam Simota and Todd Kurtz at reserve, it’s very strong. I’m glad we’ve strengthened up just in time for them coming.
“But just when we thought we were getting back to a full team, Nick Morris has had another wee fall. I spoke to Nick today and we’re looking at probably nearer three weeks to give him a chance to heal up properly this time.”
Nieminen spent the early part of his UK career in the Premier League for the Tigers and more prominently Workington, before going on to become an established Elite League performer with clubs including Lakside and Belle Vue. He also spent time with Leicester Lions in the second tier a couple of seasons ago.
Last year he found himself thrown onto the Grand Prix stage when he stood in as a last-minute replacement for Krzysztof Kasprzak at the Finnish round of the World Championship, scoring four points.
He has also represented his country on numerous occasions in the Speedway World Cup.