PHIL Bartlett insists Terry Day will remain a Weymouth Weyline Wildcat – despite appearing to suggest last week that he could be on the way out.

Fans’ favourite Day has been sidelined since his horror crash at the Wessex Raceway on May 28, in which he sustained severe concussion that had left him hospitalised.

Weymouth have struggled to compensate for his absence but did record their maiden National League win of the season last Friday, at home to the Scunthorpe Saints.

Bartlett, who leads his Wildcats to the Newport Hornets tonight (7pm) for a National League Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg tie, admitted after that meeting that he was considering signing a replacement.

However, he is adamant that it would only be a temporary measure and that Day would return to the line-up once he has fully recovered.

Speaking to Echosport, Bartlett said: “Terry had a terrible injury and it is taking a long time for him to come back, but I can guarantee that his place in the team is secure.

“The averages have changed and that has given me more points to play with, so technically I could now bring in a replacement of Byron Bekker’s quality.

“But if I did that it would only be a temporary signing. The rider-replacement facility expires after 28 days but the league has been good because there are so few riders available.

“We will just have to do our best and continue to cover Terry as well as we can until he returns, but it’s tough to cover someone of his quality.

“I have spoken with Terry and there is no problem between us. But I don’t know when he’ll be back. Some days he feels okay but others he can’t walk straight.”

Interim-manager Bartlett concedes the Wildcats are confronted with a mountainous task as they aim to overturn an eight-point deficit at National League table-toppers Newport tonight.

The Hornets eased a 49-41 victory in the first leg six weeks ago – the night that Day suffered what many had believed to be life-threatening injuries.

Bartlett, whose side will face ex-Cats Tim Webster, Kyle Newman and James White-Williams, said: “It’s going to be an uphill battle at Newport and it’s not one I’m confident we are going to win.

“They have been strong both at home and away this season and have a full compliment of riders to choose from, whereas we are without Terry.

“We will fight and give it 100 per cent.

“Speedway is unpredictable and the riders and I will do everything we can to try to get a victory, but it’s fair to say that it’s more for Newport to lose than for us to win.”

The Wildcats are still without a permanent successor to Jem Dicken but Bartlett claims installing a new manager is not currently a priority of his.

He added: “The person I was going to bring in had holidays booked and other engagements and felt that he couldn’t quite give the commitment the job needed.

“I haven’t really given it much thought recently. We have got a bit of a break, so the pressure isn’t really on to bring someone in straight away.

“I want the right person for the job. There have been a few applicants for it but I’m happy being in charge at the moment. I have done it before and the riders have said they like my style of management.”

Wildcats: Byron Bekker, R/R Terry Day, Tom Brown, Gary Cottham, James Cockle, Richard Andrews, Luke Chessell.

Hornets: Todd Kurtz, Mark Jones, Tim Webster, Tony Atkin, Kyle Newman, Tom Young, James White-Williams.