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SPEEDWAY: Cheetahs handed extension to agree deal
Oxford Cheetahs have been handed a lifeline by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA), writes ROBERT PEASLEY.
Cheetahs have been provisionally accepted into the sport's second tier - the Premier League - providing a lease can be agreed with stadium landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA).
The BSPA AGM concluded yesterday, and it was expected that Oxford would only be elevated into the Premier League if talks regarding the lease had been finalised.
But Cheetahs promoter Allen Trump has been granted a 14-day extension by speedway bosses to agree a deal with Clive Feltham, the managing director of the GRA.
It will help lift the spirits of Oxford fans.
Things appeared to be very gloomy at the end of last week, with the whole future of the sport at Cowley threatened.
Trump said: "It's a big relief to get the 14-day extension.
"I feel that we're now two-thirds of the way there. We've not only gained acceptance into the Premier League, but also gained more time in which to agree a lease.
"Now all that remains is to find some common ground with the GRA and agree a deal."
Trump was planning to phone Feltham this morning to try to hammer out a deal.
The GRA are understood to be looking to double the current rent for speedway.
Provided a deal can be agreed, the Cheetahs will line up alongside 17 other certain starters in the 2008 Premier League.
Reading Racers are moving down from the Elite League, while the BSPA have also accepted an application from Scunthorpe, who competed alongside Oxford in the Conference League last season.
Promotion and relegation is set to be introduced between the two senior leagues.
The bottom club from the Elite League will be involved in a two-legged play-off with the Premier League champions, to decide the final place in the 2009 Elite League.
The points limits have been set at 38.85 in the Elite League and 41.50 in the Premier League.
2008 LINE-UPS
Elite League: Belle Vue, Coventry, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Lakeside, Peterborough, Poole, Swindon and Wolverhampton.
Premier League: Berwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Wight, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, Newcastle, Newport, Oxford*, Reading, Redcar, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke and Workington.
*provisional
8:31pm Sunday 2nd December 2007
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CommentPosted by: ray may, oxford on 9:24pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Is it not about time the G.R.A sorted this out.Whats better, some rent or no rent at all!
Is it not about time the G.R.A sorted this out.Whats better, some rent or no rent at all!
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