No part- timers so no Panthers return for Rich

PantherswillhaveateamoffulltimeEliteLeagueridersin2013. TeambossJanStaechmann confirmedhisplanafterreserve Richard Lawsonwas ruled out of returning for a third successive season withthe city club. Lawson ( above) claimed he had been ‘ promised’ a spot in thePanthers septetbut that allegationwasquickly refutedby Staechmann. He said: “We cannot and have not promised any rider a place in our team, but Richard did figure inour plans. “I have stayed in touchwith himthroughoutthewinterand let him know that we couldn’t include him as soon as we settledonwhichdirectiontogoin. “When it became possible for us to go with a teammade up entirely of full- time Elite League riders, weoptedtotake that route.” Panthers have so far confirmedfouroftheirsevenriders fornextyear- LinusSundstrom, Ryan Fisher, Kenni Larsen and NorbertKosciuch. Kenneth Bjerre is widely tipped to join them as number one.