BELLE Vue promoter John Perrin has pledged his support to team manager John Hall.

Hall has been the subject of outspoken criticism by sacked Grand Prix rider Andy Smith, but Perrin is sticking by his man.

Speaking in the Speedway Star magazine, the Congleton-based Smith said: ''I still think John Perrin believes in me but he isn't the away team manager. John Hall is and he hasn't got a clue. I can be scoring and he won't even notice.

''I just think that if Belle Vue had a decent team manager, they'd probably do something but John Perrin doesn't like travelling away.''

Hall is away on holiday but Perrin jumped to his defence and also praised his overall contribution to the Aces' cause.

'Hall will be staying'

''John Hall has put a lot more into Belle Vue than Andy Smith ever has," he said.

''If he's trying to get rid of John through fan power then he's completely on the wrong wavelength.

''John will be staying at Belle Vue for as long as I'm in charge and for as long as he wants to be here.

''He puts in a lot of time and effort behind the scenes on things like getting sponsorship and negotiating with riders. Team managing is only a part of what he has done for this club for many years.

''Andy seems to expect to stay in the side even when he's not scoring very well.

''His average is only five point something and you'd expect more from a Grand Prix rider.

''There were other reasons we let him go such as he didn't like to go on parade and wouldn't wear the proper race suit, even though we were paying for it.

''There were also problems over the fact that he also holds a Polish racing licence and put racing over there first when there was clash of fixtures.

''And he didn't like being taken out of races.

''Obviously, no rider does because it can cost him money but most of them accept it if they aren't scoring.

'Sick of him having a pop'

''I'm sick of him having a pop at John Hall. If he put as much into the Aces as John we'd have won more matches.

''Andy wants to step back and take a look at himself. He says he isn't criticising me but he's criticising Belle Vue.

''As far as I'm concerned he should be thanking Belle Vue for giving him a job for the last three years when no-one else would.

''Don't forget he's a Coventry asset who has been riding for us on loan, but when was the last time they used him?''