Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 06 November 2008

WORKINGTON Comets will name their first signing for the 2009 season at next Friday’s annual presentation night.

Owner Keith Denham and team manager Ian Thomas still have to finalise plans after considering developments at next week’s promoters’ annual meeting but that won’t stop them making the announcement.

Denham said: “We are making plans all the time and although we can’t be sure on what’s going to happen at the conference we have to be ready to move if things fall into place the way we expect.

“It should be a big night for the fans with three trophies to put on display, and a chance for them to celebrate the best season is in the club’s history.

“I’m delighted with the way it’s gone for my first season and now I will be sitting down with Ian and seeing what we can do to do even better next season.

“Having broken the ice after 38 years and won a seven-man trophy it would be nice - and a good target - to go for the Premier League, Knockout Cup or Premier Trophy next season to show we mean business.”

Daniel Nermark, whose first season as Comets’ No1 was abruptly ended by injury, is flying in for the presentation night in the Washington Central, as is skipper Kauko Nieminen, who also finished early because of injury.

Thomas said: “Who knows what we might have achieved if they had stayed injury-free all season. I feel certain we would have been knocking on the door in the Knockout Cup final instead of finishing as runners-up.”

Thomas will miss the presentation night because he will be representing the Comets at the promoters’ meeting which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There’s likely to be a hot line between the two later in the evening.

Team averages, the make-up of the leagues and whether to return to the bonus point system are three of the main topics on the agenda.

Former Workington favourite James Wright has already taken part in his club’s presentation night - and gone home with silverware.

Wright, in his first season with the Swindon Robins, won the trophy for the rider who collected most bonus points in their Elite League matches.

And Jason Lyons, whose superb performance at Berwick last week helped Workington to victory in the Young Shield, has agreed a new deal to stay with Birmingham for a third successive season.

Lyons will continue as captain and will have some input into the club’s team building plans.

He said: “I feel very settled at Birmingham and wouldn't want to move anywhere else. The track is always well prepared, the fans are superb, the management very fair and we have an excellent stadium.”

Lyons and Tomas Topinka had important roles to play as guests in the end-of-season performances which won Comets their elusive first seven-man trophy.